Goodfellas Pizza, 1208 King St., Suite 105, a new large restaurant/bar, was approved for a consumer beer license on Thursday. The business, which has a fire capacity of 489, is on two levels. Each level has a designated capacity, and security guards with clickers will count and monitor the number of people in each floor.
The main bar known as “Wise Guys Lounge” will not be advertised, nor will it have signs.
The idea, said Manager Matt Falco, is for someone to walk into the restaurant and find something unexpected, to create “a speakeasy feel.” Sales are projected to be 60 percent food and 40 percent alcohol. The menu will include New York style by-the-slice pizza out of a case as well as full pies. There will also be calzones, salads and desserts.
For now, capacity is being limited due to the virus threat, but is expected to increase. Hours of operation are Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. through midnight, Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. through 2:30 a.m., and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 12 midnight. Smoking is not allowed and customers must be 21 to enter.
Embargo, 301 Cherokee Blvd. which had planned to close its doors, has been bought by father and son Chavez Fugencio and E. Chavez Galdino who both worked at the restaurant for five years before the closure. Because, they said it had a “big fan base,” which loved the food and ambiance, they took over the business which is now named El Embargo. It was described as a restaurant with a family atmosphere. The beer board could not give a beer license to the owners until citizenship paperwork has been completed, but it is open now as a restaurant without a bar. A TABC license is also pending.
W&Y Sports Bar, 3006 Dodson Ave., the previous location of “Everyday is Sunday Restaurant,” has been approved for both a consumer and carry-out beer license. The bar will have only pre-packaged food for sale. The beer permit came with a warning to be a good neighbor by keeping down noise and crowds and having a clean parking lot because it is located in the middle of a residential neighborhood.
A craft studio named Pinspiration will be opening at 2275 Gunbarrel Road, Suite 105. Inspiration for projects will come from Pinterest, said owner Hailey Capps. “Beer sometimes helps people be more creative,” she said, after being approved for a beer permit. Occupancy of the building is 100, but the number of people and employees will be limited at first. When it opens, it will be with reservations by appointment only but will eventually change to allow people to come in anytime to do crafting, once restrictions due to the virus are removed.
Dollar General Store, 728 Market St., which has already opened, was approved for a beer permit at the Thursday beer board meeting. An application has also been submitted for the store to sell wine, said Attorney Ginna Burrell, representing Dollar General. Employees of these stores are trained with the Responsible Wine Vendor’s Program. The business also sends secret shoppers at various times and an employee who makes an illegal sale is terminated, said the attorney.
Shiva Food Mart, a convenience store at 303 Brown’s Ferry Road, was given a permit to sell carry-out beer, subject to the mandatory training being completed within the next three months.