The Chattanooga Police Department, in conjunction with the Hamilton County Coalition, sent an undercover, underage buyer into 14 stores during a series of compliance checks that yielded four violations which were heard at the Thursday meeting of the Chattanooga Beer Board.
On April 26, the underage buyer took two beverages to the cashier at Big Pappa’s Quick Stop, 4107 Dodds Ave.
One was a beer, the other a fruit drink. The clerk charged 99 cents for each, believing they were both soft drinks. He was helping his son, the owner of the store, and was busy closing out for the night, it was stated. He told the board that the packaging of the drinks looked alike and so he did not ask for an ID. The board gave this business a written reprimand that will be put in the firm’s file.
The Westside Shop, 1221 Grove St., in the College Hill Courts Housing area, was also penalized for not checking the ID of an underage buyer on April 15. The manager was not present and the clerk at the cash register, who was alone in the store, had worked there only three months. He told the board that there were too many people and he got nervous and made a mistake. This store has a history of problems and a Chattanooga Police Officer, Kyle Moses, is stationed outside daily from 8 a.m.-4 p.m., it was stated. Four nights a week a private security guard is present, yet problems, including loitering, drugs, drinking outside and gang activity persists, it was testified. Officer Moses said only a few arrests have been made because of officer safety issues that need more back-up. And, he said when complaints of loitering are made, people run. The penalty given was based on the first offense of selling beer to a minor, and resulted in a 10-day suspension to begin May 28.
Rogers Supermarket, 1400 E. Main St., made the same mistake of failing to check an ID and sold a beer to a minor. The register in this store has a scanner for IDs for age but it was not used. The clerk, who has worked at the store eight years, said he just made a mistake. The owner has already signed up his three employees for training classes recommended by the Hamilton County Coalition. The board issued a 10-day suspension of the beer license for the mistake. It will begin May 28.
The Bitter Alibi, 825 Houston St., was cited to the Beer Board by a UTC officer. On two consecutive days, May 5 and May 6, he witnessed customers leaving the bar carrying out open containers. After the first incident he spoke to the manager, after the second, he spoke to Chattanooga Police Officer John Collins. Measures have been taken since the incidents to prevent a re-occurrence, the owners told the board. Signs have been posted in the alleyway and parking lot warning of no open containers, and the staff has increased in number. The owners have vowed to be more diligent in enforcing the rules. The license for this bar was suspended for 10 days beginning May 28, considering both violations.
New beer licenses for on-premise consumption were given to three restaurants. The Root Kitchen and Wine Bar, 313 Manufacturer’s Rd., is in the former location of Elemental. It is primarily a restaurant that will serve beer along with locally sourced and organic food.
Harvest Grocery will open at 5414 Hixson Pike on June 10. Owner Timothy McClure said the business is the same concept as Greenlife Grocery. There will be hot and cold bars and both inside and outside seating areas. The beer permit will allow the sale of beer to go along with the food. The store will also sell take-out beer.
Grandfalloon, 400 E. Main St. was also given a consumer beer license. This business is a café by day and a venue by night.
Harry’s convenience stores at 8201 Apison Pike, 305 Frazier Avenue and at 6506 Bonny Oaks Dr. were all given carry-out beer permits. These stores were previously known as Mr. Zips.
Chip Baker, executive director of Friends of the Festival, was given a beer license for the 34th year of Riverbend. He said that beer sales will be handled by non-profits and will benefit St. Jude’s Research Hospital, The Ronald McDonald House, Stringer’s Ridge and the Navy for its annual ball.
Gates will open for the Bessie Smith Strut at 4:30 p.m. and close at 11 p.m. on June 8, but beer sales will be stopped at 10:30. Wrist bands will be issued at the entrance with additional age checks done at the individual locations selling beer during the event. Licenses were given to business up and down M.L.King Boulevard including JJ’s Bohemia, at 231, Wafflez Factory, Inc., at 301, The Dollar Store, at 301, Roshanna’s Hair Beauty Bar, at 320, Maggie G’s, at 400, and Champy’s Fried Chicken, at 526 M.L. King.