American Draft, 34 Choo Choo Ave., previously a “pour-it-yourself” bar, closed during the Covid-19 pandemic. Brandon Anthony and his wife Laura, who also own the Chattanooga Jewelry Company at the Choo Choo, decided to take on the venture.
The application for a new beer license for the business came before the Chattanooga Beer Board Thursday morning. In light of the pandemic, Mr. Anthony told the board that the business will be changed to a very traditional style bar, however, the pour-it-yourself system will be kept in case things change in the future.
The Anthonys hope to open the bar by the end of October and plan on having a soft opening for the remainder of the year. Plans are to start with it being open three days a week. Before the permit to sell beer was approved, a warning was given that because the location is in a high tourist area, a lot of out of state IDs will be seen, and that diligence will be needed to make sure customers are the legal age to drink alcohol.
Board and Brush, at 6011 Chesterton Way, Suite 111 at Cambridge Square in Ooltewah, is a Do-it-Yourself workshop where people can join friends to craft custom wood signs that can be used in home décor. It has been open for two years and before now has been a BYOB business. The capacity is 24 and there are four employees who will be trained in beer sales. Chairman of the Board Dan Mayfield commented that alcohol and power tools might not be a good mix. “The good thing," said the applicant, James Odum, is that "we pre-build everything.”