Philedssa Rayshel Gustus, owner of The Slide Bar, 5305 Brainerd Road, was approved for both a consumer and carry-out beer permit for the business that is a combination barber shop and small bar with a capacity of 49. Hours of operation are from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

 

James Wesley Odum, owner of Board & Brush Chattanooga, 6011 Chesterton Way, Suite 111, told the beer board that fire and building inspections have not been completed at his business because despite multiple attempts to get in touch with the city departments to schedule inspections, he has received no response.

The Chattanooga Police Officer with the beer board will help him get in touch with those departments before the next meeting.

 

Two applications for beer licenses had to be passed to future meetings because the Chattanooga Beer Code has provisions that no person with five percent ownership in the business who has been convicted of any law involving alcohol in the past 10 years will be eligible to receive a beer permit.

 

Two of the partners with RAMS LLC, owners of California Tortilla, 5215 Highway 153, Suite 123, have previous violations. The three partners who own the restaurant also own two liquor stores. The two, who were convicted of the violation of underage sale of alcohol once in 2016 and once in 2017, each have more than five percent ownership in the restaurant. “Our hands are tied because of the law,” said Board Chairman Dan Mayfield. The application for a consumer beer permit was passed to October so ownership can be rearranged and documented. In the meantime, the restaurant is open and serving food but no beer.

 

The application from Sunrise Market, #49, 3131 S. Broad St., was also passed because one of the three owners was convicted of making an underage sale of alcohol in 2014. Under the circumstances, the board cannot grant a beer permit, said board member Trevor Atchley.

 

The owner with the conviction at Sunrise Market also owns several other convenience stores in the Chattanooga area, and at California Tortilla, the two owners who were convicted of an alcohol related violation, also are partners in two liquor stores in Chattanooga. Discussion then questioned if an applicant is ineligible for a new permit would it affect or invalidate existing licenses in their names.

 

Some members who have served many years on the beer board were surprised that this question has never come up before noting that two applications were in question for this issue. It is the background check from the TBI that identified the convictions. If this matter comes up again, there is no reason for the application to even come before the beer board, said Chairman Mayfield.  

 

There is a recent requirement that professional training is required for anyone who sells and serves beer in Chattanooga. The board, along with Assistant City Attorney Melinda Foster, is in the process of determining what will be included in the server’s training and the length of time training will be valid. A uniform method of certifying the people who do the training is also under development.