A violation hearing for Kanku’s #9, 3440 Wilcox Blvd., took place at the Chattanooga Beer Board meeting Thursday morning. The charge was for allowing litter and debris to accumulate around the premises. Chattanooga Police Officer John Collins, accompanied by a representative from Neighborhood Services, went to the store the morning of Jan. 13 in response to neighborhood complaints about trash and loitering surrounding the business.
Officer Collins described the parking lot and area around the building as being littered with “lots and lots of trash.” He took photographs as evidence that showed two dumpsters overflowing, and campaign signs, plastic crates, food containers and old tires lying around the property.
When the store manager, Jerome Moore, was notified the business was in violation, Officer Collins said he immediately went out to start cleaning up, and on two follow-up visits he could tell they were making an effort to comply.
That employee was asked by the owner to represent the business at the Beer Board hearing. He told the board that a lot of the trash accumulates after the store closes at 1 a.m. “You wouldn’t believe what goes on there,” he said. Since the store was cited for the violation, people that work there have been picking up trash hourly, he told the board. “You’re the community dumpster?” asked board member Christopher Keene.
Despite the mess being made by people from the community, the beer code specifies that the owner of a business is responsible for keeping the premises clean. Board member Lee Dear said the store needed to be more responsive to the neighborhood. The employee responded, “We’re trying.”
Robert Schreane, a community advocate, told the board that the neighborhood had sent the store a letter in April 2014 requesting a meeting to discuss the complaints of trash and loitering, but got no response. Mr. Moore said that ownership of the store had changed in April. The previous owner was Badal Amin. However, the manager knows the new owner only by the name of “Jake.” He said that he had been sent to the meeting because the owner is Indian and does not understand English.
Assistant City Attorney Keith Resiman said a permit had last been issued in 2013 to Ramila Chaudhari and that the business has had three owners in the past four years. The permit remains registered to Mr. Chaudhari but there are several Chaudharis that have beer licenses in Chattanooga. Confusion continued about who actually owns the business. Board member James Hobbs said, “We run into this type of issue with every Kanku. I want the owner in here to explain everything. He needs to bring an interpreter if he can’t explain in English.”
Mr. Dear made a motion that was unanimously approved to suspend the beer license until the Feb. 2 beer board meeting when the actual owner should appear to answer questions. In the meantime, Mr. Moore proceeded to tell the board that he was just the cook, and “I don’t like the way you’re coming at me.” Chairman Ron Smith responded that was not the intent because “the owner sent you to fight their battle.” Mr. Moore said on his way out the door, “I’m out of here; ya’ll do what you have to do.”
Confusion also resulted in the second violation that was heard at the meeting Thursday. Porker’s Bar-B-Que, 1251 Market St., was cited for selling beer on a license that expired Dec. 31, 2012. The owner, Beau Tucker, told the board that he did not realize he owed it.
Attorney Reisman explained the renewal procedure of the city treasury department sending renewal notices. The police department then receives the list of renewals. Mr. Tucker said he did not recall receiving a notice, and that it must have gone to his bookkeeper. When he became aware of the problem, he paid the current and back fees.
Mr. Reisman noticed an additional problem while checking on the permit. He said the secretary of state said the corporation that is listed as owner of the business had been dissolved because of not paying fees, so the state says that it no longer exists. He said that Mr. Tucker needs to figure out who owns the company before re-applying for a beer permit.
A motion was passed to put a letter in the business’ file stating that beer cannot be sold from today forward until the owner chooses to reapply for a license.
Because of new state laws, beer distributors have been applying for liquor licenses from the ABC board and distributors of spirits and wine have been making applications for beer permits. Thomas White Jr. applied and was approved for a beer license for Athens Distributing Company, a wholesaler of spirits and wine located at 2735 Kanasita Dr. The new laws will allow alcohol, beer and wine to be sold by the same people. The permit was required in order to warehouse all in the same location.
Two restaurant/bars were issued a new beer license due to a change in ownership. Brix Nouveau, 301 Cherokee Blvd., and Southside Social, 1818 Chestnut St., are now both owned by John Wise III.
The special event, Rail Jam, sponsored by Mellow Mushroom Pizza, will be held Feb. 7 from 2-6 p.m. This is a snowboard competition that will be held downtown between Aquarium Way and 3rd Street. Artificial snow will be made and blown to create the course. The area will be fenced to allow for crowd control, and patrons will be identified at the door and given wrist bands but will be identified again outside at the beer truck.