Chattanooga Beer Board approves four new beer permits

The Chattanooga Beer Board on Feb. 20, 2025, approved four new beer permits for local businesses, including a Hamilton Place hotel, a Murphy USA convenience store, a Saint Elmo neighborhood music venue and a Georgia Avenue restaurant.

The approvals were unanimous in roll-call votes. Board members asked applicants about age verification, staff training and where alcohol would be sold on each property before voting.

Representing Vision Hospitality Management LLC, Alex Ray, general manager at the property, told the board the permit request for Tru Chattanooga Hamilton Place at 7008 Shallowford Road is driven by a “brand standard by Hilton to have beer to be sold to the guest.” Ray said the hotel has 90 rooms, that beer would be sold from a locked area in the hotel’s retail area and that sales would be limited to registered guests. He said front-desk staff will be trained; the board discussed confirming ABC (Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission) training for staff. The board approved the hotel’s permit by roll call (Christie: yes; Veronica: yes; Ron: yes; Reginald: yes; Betsy: yes; chair: yes).

Jill Jenkins, representing Murphy Oil USA Inc. (Murphy USA #7943) at 5716 Highway 153, said every employee is required to complete Tennessee ABC licensing training and internal testing and that clerks are instructed to card any purchaser for alcohol regardless of apparent age. The board approved the store’s beer permit after members were told the location recently moved from employee-operated kiosks to a full walk-in store (Christie: yes; Veronica: yes; Ron: yes; Reginald: yes; Betsy: yes; chair: yes).

At 5500 Saint Elmo Avenue, Peter Jet Chiavani and Cali Sue Chiavani, operators of Rumble Stomp Entertainment LLC doing business as the Wood Shop, described a music-focused venue that will operate limited hours (5–10 p.m. Tuesday–Thursday; 5–11 p.m. Friday and Saturday) and a 70-person indoor capacity. The operators said they will use a two-step ID check (at the door and at the bar) because the venue will be all-ages early in the evening and will mark patrons over 21. They said the beer garden is fenced and locked and that beer will only be sold from inside the building; the board approved the permit (Christie: yes; Veronica: yes; Ron: yes; Reginald: yes; Betsy: yes; chair: yes).

Daniel Starkey, who identified himself as the general manager and prospective buyer of Attack LLC doing business as Attack of the Tatsu at 818 Georgia Avenue, Unit 118, said he is completing a stock sale and needs the permit in his name while Secretary of State paperwork is finalized. The board approved the application “subject to legal sign-off,” and staff asked Starkey to obtain and surrender the old permit from the previous owner once licensing transfers are complete (Christie: yes; Veronica: yes; Ron: yes; Reginald: yes; Betsy: yes; chair: yes).

Throughout the meeting board members repeatedly asked about ABC training and ID procedures; applicants described either mandatory ABC certification for staff or existing server permits and food-handler documentation on file. Several applicants noted limitations on where beer would be sold—inside a locked area, at the bar only, or restricted to registered hotel guests—and the board referenced legal review or confirmation from regulatory staff before final administrative filing.

Votes at a glance: Vision Hospitality Management LLC (Tru Chattanooga Hamilton Place, 7008 Shallowford Road) — motion to approve (mover: not specified; second: not specified); roll call: Christie yes, Veronica yes, Ron yes, Reginald yes, Betsy yes, chair yes — outcome: approved. Murphy Oil USA Inc. (Murphy USA #7943, 5716 Highway 153) — motion to approve (mover: not specified; second: not specified); roll call: Christie yes, Veronica yes, Ron yes, Reginald yes, Betsy yes, chair yes — outcome: approved. Rumble Stomp Entertainment LLC (The Wood Shop, 5500 Saint Elmo Avenue) — motion to approve (mover: not specified; second: not specified); roll call: Christie yes, Veronica yes, Ron yes, Reginald yes, Betsy yes, chair yes — outcome: approved. Attack LLC (Attack of the Tatsu, 818 Georgia Ave., Unit 118) — motion to approve subject to legal sign-off (mover: not specified; second: not specified); roll call: Christie yes, Veronica yes, Ron yes, Reginald yes, Betsy yes, chair yes — outcome: approved (subject to legal).

The board concluded the application portion of the meeting and said it would reconvene for a separate violation/administrative hearing segment with the administrative hearing officer after a brief recess.