Knoxville Beer Board approves multiple permits pending final paperwork, postpones Chuck E. Cheese and tables Dash and Go

The Knoxville Beer Board on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2024 approved a series of beer-permit applications pending completion of final documentation, postponed one application to Feb. 18 and tabled another application tied to a Tennessee Department of Transportation review.

The actions affect bars, restaurants, breweries and event permits across Knoxville. Board members repeatedly approved applications “pending final documentation,” a status the chair said indicates one or more requirements — commonly a certificate of occupancy, sales-tax registration, health department approval or surrender of an existing city beer permit — remain outstanding.

Corner Market on 13th (item 6B) was approved pending surrender of the existing permit. East Tennessee Kidney Foundation’s Shamrock Fest (item 6C), a family-friendly St. Patrick’s Day festival with a beer tent at Worlds Fair Park on March 15, was approved; Katie Martin of the East Tennessee Kidney Foundation told the board the event “is completely free to the public.” Karma and the Chameleon LLC (item 6D) was approved pending certificate-of-occupancy, health department approval and surrender of the current permit; owner Courtney Moore described plans to “purchase the old Pine House” and operate a daytime coffeehouse that would transition into a craft cocktail bar in the evenings.

The board approved similar pending-permit motions for Knoxville Sport Bar and Lounge (item 6E), Monday Night Brewing (6G), Sri Lakshmi Investments (6H) and True by Hilton — Turkey Creek (6I). Council members praised applicants who revised server-compliance plans; Councilman Roberto said he appreciated the “thoroughness” of one applicant’s server-compliance submission.

The board also handled a set of addendum items for previously approved permits that remain incomplete. The board granted extensions (most commonly to the March or April meeting, depending on the applicant) for several applicants including 4th Creek Brewing (manufacturer/distribution and a separate on-premise file), Cassie’s Corner (caterer/consumption), Guzzi’s Corner Grill (manufacturer/on-off premise), Fasten Tavern and others. Applicants and staff repeatedly cited missing items such as certificates of occupancy, sales-tax registration and LLC articles of organization as the reasons for the extensions.

Item 6A, Chuck E. Cheese, was postponed to the Feb. 18 meeting at the applicant’s request. Item 7E, an application for Dash and Go, was tabled indefinitely after staff described TDOT-related construction changes that would remove a preexisting drive‑thru area; board staff and Mr. Frost advised that the scope of the DOT work would likely take longer than three months, and Mr. Johnson told the board, “I don’t see March being realistic.” The board voted to table the Dash and Go item; staff said the applicant must notify staff to have the item returned to a future agenda.

Several applicants were told they could pick up permits at the end of the meeting if all required documentation is on file. Staff repeatedly directed applicants to contact city staff after the meeting — most frequently identified as Mr. Byrd and Mr. Johnson — and to coordinate with Officer Presley for background- and server-related compliance checks.

Votes at a glance - 6A Chuck E. Cheese — postponed to Feb. 18 at applicant request. - 6B Corner Market on 13th — approved pending surrender of existing permit. - 6C East Tennessee Kidney Foundation (Shamrock Fest, March 15, Worlds Fair Park) — approved; applicant said the event “is completely free to the public.” - 6D Karma and the Chameleon LLC — approved pending certificate of occupancy, health department approval and surrender of existing permit; applicant said the business will operate as a daytime coffeehouse and an evening craft cocktail concept. - 6E Knoxville Sport Bar and Lounge — approved pending sales-tax registration, certificate of occupancy and Dallas-law/server compliance documentation; staff and a council member commended the applicant’s server-compliance plan. - 6G Monday Night Brewing — file complete; approved. - 6H Sri Lakshmi Investments (Deepali Patel) — file complete; approved. - 6I True by Hilton — Turkey Creek — approved pending sales-tax registration, certificate of occupancy and health department approval. - Addendum items (7A–7G and others listed at the meeting) — multiple extensions granted (March or April meeting) for 4th Creek Brewing, Cassie’s Corner, Guzzi’s Corner Grill, Fasten Tavern, Fuel Stop (Kaiser LLC), Los Fuentes Mexican Restaurant and others; one applicant (Sticky Rice Cafe) had already picked up both permits. - 7E Dash and Go — tabled indefinitely because of TDOT/construction issues; applicant must re-notify staff to return the item to the agenda.

Why it matters The meeting moved dozens of business license and event permits forward while preserving public-safety and administrative checks: background-screening, server-training/compliance and health- and building-inspection sign-offs remain conditions for final certificates. For event organizers and new business owners the board’s common disposition — “approved pending final documentation” — lets operations proceed toward opening while flagging outstanding legal or safety steps that staff must verify.

What happens next Applicants with outstanding items were told to work directly with city staff (Mr. Byrd, Mr. Johnson and Officer Presley were named in the meeting) to complete certificates of occupancy, sales-tax registration, health‑department approvals and server-compliance checks. Applicants whose items were extended must return at the next scheduled board meeting named in each motion (commonly March or April) unless they satisfy outstanding requirements beforehand and pick up permits once staff confirm files are complete.

Ending With no members of the public signed up for comment, the board moved through the agenda in a single session and adjourned after the final items were resolved.