Despite the many different violations that were discovered at Fredderick’s, 1207 Dodds Ave., the Chattanooga Beer Board could only hand down a three day suspension of the beer license for having illegal alcohol on the premise.
Officer John Collins with the Chattanooga Police Department on May 23 received a call from a patrolman saying that minors were drinking at Fredderick’s. By the time that Officer Collins arrived the underage customers had left so there was no official documentation of underage sales.
The store is a convenience store in the front and a bar/deli with pool tables in the back. Upon arrival that day Officer Collins saw seven opened liquor bottles and hookah pipes and discovered moonshine stored in the refrigerator. He alerted code enforcement of violations to the fire codes and building codes after finding them. In the front store Officer Collins found a lot of food items and drugs that were out-of-date. He also told the board that there was a sign advertising the sale of Viagra, despite that requiring a prescription to dispense.
Officer Collins said he was very concerned with the condition of the store, that it was in general disrepair. He said that it looked as if the convenience store was really a makeshift bar.
The owner, Fredderick C. Perdue, told the board that a party had taken place in the back room for which the people brought liquor. He said they were suppose to have come back to get it, but never had. Under the beer code customers are allowed to brown bag or bring their own liquor, but the bottles must leave with the person that brought them. Those were the bottles viewed on the tables. Another was behind the bar that Mr. Perdue said was his personal bottle. He said that he was not selling liquor.
After Officer Collins told him that having them in the building was considered storing it and was illegal, the owner cooperated and boxed up the bottles and removed them. The expired products were removed from the shelves and Assistant City Attorney Keith Reisman warned the owner to stop selling the Viagra, which Mr. Perdue had gotten off of the internet, with the warning that it is a prescription drug. The appropriate agencies will also be notified of the building, safety and health violations so they can take action.
Because there were no official witnesses to underage serving of beer, and the fact that the other violations are pending, they could not be considered by the beer board when determining the penalty, resulting in the three day suspension that will start June 9.
Kanpai of Tokyo, 2200 Hamilton Place Blvd., was caught selling beer to a minor during lunch hours on March 17. The violation was found when the Tennessee Alcohol and Beverage Commission was conducting a compliance check. Because it was a second violation for the same offense the Chattanooga Beer Board was notified. The general manager, Frances Luna, acknowledged that the server had looked at the customer’s ID, but went ahead and made the sale.
The board was concerned because this restaurant is part of a regional chain, with three other locations in South Carolina, that no oversight or support was provided by the home office. The local manager is left to develop training procedures for the employees in Chattanooga. Board Member Christopher Keene said “it’s a hiring problem,” and warned the manager to toughen-up. She was referred to training programs that are available through the Hamilton County Coalition conducted by Calandra Smith.
The Beer Board duplicated the penalty from the TABC. The beer license will be suspended for 10 days starting June 9 through June 18.
Applications for new licenses on Thursday morning came from three businesses. Dish T’Pass is an established caterer, but they are now opening a “grab-and-go café” at 300 West 6th St., at the corner of 6th and Pine Street. The new business is on the ground floor of a multi-story apartment building and will have tables on a wrap around patio. Food choices will be a variety of soups, salads and sandwiches, as well as take-and-bake and convenience items such as coffee, tea and beer. A consumer and carry-out beer license was approved.
Nick & Linda’s Bar, 4762 Highway 58, applied for a new beer license although the bar has been in business now for a couple of years. The new license was needed in order to change the name that was on the permit. The business will be required to close at 11 p.m. until it gets a special exemptions permit from the Chattanooga City Council.
A special events beer license was issued to Chattanooga Presents for three weeks of the Friday night shows at Miller Plaza. These will be for June 3, 24, and July 1 from 6-10:30 p.m. The free concerts will be suspended for the two weeks of Riverbend.
The Bessie Smith Hall, 200 Main St., was given a special events beer license for June 13, the night of the Bessie Smith Strut, from 4:30-11 p.m. This year there will be six locations selling beer for the event. People will be ID’d and given a wrist band to indicate they are 21 or older and vendors are notified that they can re-check IDs if there is any question. The style of band will not be revealed before the event in order to protect from being counterfeited.
Addresses of the independent beer vendors are at Roshannas Hair & Beauty Bar, 320 M.L.King Blvd.; Jackson Motor Service, 622 E. M.L.King Blvd.; Hutton & Smith, 401 E. M.L.King Blvd. and Champy’s, 526 E. M.L.King Blvd.
Hutton & Smith, a brewery, will operate as usual with the exception they will not sell growlers (64 oz.) and Crowlers (32 oz) during the event. Pints only will be sold in plastic cups marked with the company logo. The first beer will be $6 and refills will drop to $5 in the attempt to encourage customers to stay.
Champy’s will set up a couple of beer tents on the street in addition to selling food and drinks inside the business. Beer sold inside will not be allowed to go past the door.
Heaven & Ale at Cambridge Square will be celebrating its first anniversary with a party on June 18 from 11 a.m.-11 p.m. with a rain date of July 2. A barbecue truck will be in an empty lot outside the bar. A special events license is needed in case customers want to walk outside to get food.