Recently, the Clever Alehouse opened on Dayton Boulevard in Red Bank. In just a few months, this venue has already become a popular gathering place in a community that is sadly deficient of places where neighbors and visitors can come together and talk over tasty food and drinks.
In the case of Clever, the three partners (Nelson Taylor, Jeff Schwenke and Jason Bowers) have years of success behind them with their other successful eateries. I like their chances. I recently spoke with Nelson about their future plans and was excited to hear of a continued build-out of their outdoor space to include an awning covering and an expanded beer garden area. Also, down the road will be an expansion of their extremely limited kitchen to fully support a more extensive menu. On a personal level, it is awesome to have the Clever Alehouse within a short walk of our home in the White Oak neighborhood.
Local restaurants are small businesses that often have razor-thin profit margins.
The chances of success with any small business are not great. Research shows that the risk of failure is higher than the chances of success. Yet, a successful restaurant adds to the local economy by creating jobs, adding to the municipal tax base, and by creating a place for social gathering.
I have heard people say that Red Bank needs more restaurants, especially ones that are not the chain franchises of the fast food industry. It may surprise many that Red Bank already has at least 15 locally owned restaurants. For comparison, there are 10 fast-food options.
If you want to support our local Red Bank community in an easy and fun way, I encourage you to check out these local restaurants: Amigo’s, Be Caffeinated, Bread & Butter Bakery, Clever Alehouse, Crust Pizza, Dub’s Place, El Arca de Noe, Grand China, Lillie Mae’s Place, Mr. Burrito Grill, Pie R Square, Pizzeria Cortile, The Meeting House, Typhoon of Tokyo, and the Red Bank-based Yummy Thai Food Truck.
Yes, we need more options and part of that is proving that starting a small business in Red Bank is a worthwhile investment. Entrepreneurs who are looking for a suitable place will look closely at how the community supports what is already here.
Red Bank has many advantages for new businesses. Among them are:
· Proximity to downtown Chattanooga, Signal Mountain, Hixson, and Soddy Daisy
· Comparatively lower-priced property and rent
· A built-in customer base of young families and educated retirees who are hungry for new restaurants in Red Bank
· An opportunity to become an active participant in a community that values local dining options.
We need to support our existing restaurants. I want folks in our community to “Buy Red Bank.” That means if you are planning to dine out (order for pick up), think about our local options first. Invest your hard-earned dollars in the Red Bank. Choose a local restaurant and make memories while supporting your hometown’s economic development.