Embargo 62 was getting ready to close down when an employee decided to take it over and keep it open. Galdino Chavez and his father, who acquired the business at 301 Cherokee Blvd., changed the name to El Embargo. That application was tabled by the Chattanooga Beer Board because of citizenship issues with the elder Chavez.
On Thursday, Galdino, who is 18, came before the board a second time, as sole owner. “It seems off-kilter,” said attorney Melinda Foster, but there is nothing in the city code that restricts issuing a beer license to an 18-year-old, even though they cannot buy, sell or possess it.
There remains the question of how that will affect buying beer and paying for it, for the restaurant. Mr. Chavez expects that a manager who is an appropriate age will be given the responsibility of buying the beer for the business, he told the board.
The decision was made to table application of the beer permit until the name of the person who is over 21 and who will purchase the beer and hold the license is named. The manager will be present at the next beer board meeting via Zoom on Aug. 6.