Residents, mosque leaders urge Beer Board to suspend Shady’s Corner; board requests inspections and asks council to clarify penalties

Hundreds of neighbors and members of the Mohammed Al Amin Islamic Center addressed the Chattanooga Beer Board during an extended public-comment period, urging the board to suspend or revoke the beer permit for Shady’s Corner, a neighborhood bar they say has created a public-safety and quality-of-life crisis.

Hamid Alameen, who identified himself as with the Islamic Center, told the board that he provided open-records data from the Chattanooga Police Department showing what he said were 511 police responses to Shady’s Corner between Sept. 22, 2023 and Sept. 22, 2025 and more than 206 calls in the current year. "Shady's Corner is not safe for anybody to be down there," he said. "We are asking you today to suspend their life just like you would do anyone else." (Transcript quote preserved as spoken.)

Other speakers described ongoing vandalism, drug activity, fights, alleged drink-spiking and public urination on or near mosque property and repeated emergency responses that they say block access for residents and emergency vehicles. Resident Gary Rudolph said, "We have been terrorized by Shady's Corner," and asked the board to consider the cumulative effect on people who live nearby.

Faisal Saeed, introduced as a chaplain and a member of the mayor’s faith leaders committee, said the pattern of arrests, alleged assaults and noise problems should prompt decisive action: "Revoke the beer license of this establishment," he said. Several residents said they fear a fatal incident could occur if conditions continue.

Board members and staff explained the limits of the Beer Board’s authority when there are not formal regulatory citations in front of the board. City attorney and regulatory staff described the usual enforcement path: law-enforcement response, regulatory citations where applicable, a hearing before the administrative hearing officer, and then a board decision on any recommended discipline. Several speakers and board members noted that some incidents may involve active criminal investigations, which can complicate administrative action until court processes conclude.

After public comment, the board took two formal steps: - It unanimously passed a motion to ask City Council to amend the municipal ordinance to set a clear time limit for payment of civil penalties (a board member said a motion to send this recommendation to City Council passed by roll call). - It voted (one dissenting vote recorded) to ask the Regulatory Bureau and the Chattanooga Police Department to visit Shady’s Corner, Cabanas nightclub and Let’s Paint/Lehi Paint, inspect for violations and report their findings to the Beer Board at its next meeting.

Speakers who addressed the board included mosque leaders and many nearby residents; several named speakers were Hamid Alameen (Islamic Center), Gary Rudolph (resident), Faisal Saeed (chaplain/faith leader), John Rollin (Jefferson Heights association president), Bill Lockhart (resident), and multiple others who described similar concerns.

Authorities - Tennessee Code cited by a public speaker: Tenn. Code Ann. §57-5-103 (referenced by Hamid Alameen regarding grounds to revoke or suspend a beer permit for repeated violations).