The Knoxville Beer Board approved several new beer-permit applications on Nov. 28, 2025, but conditioned each approval on applicants providing required final documentation.

Chair called for applicants one by one and asked each to state name and address for the record. Elaine’s Tavern (applicant Roberta Elaine Davis Schoffner) was approved pending sales-tax registration and a certificate of occupancy. Ricky’s Lore Libations (applicant Jocelyn Moran) was approved pending sales-tax registration, certificate of occupancy and health-department approval. Hackney Petroleum’s application (Tom Deggs, general manager) was approved pending a certificate of occupancy and Department of Agriculture approval. Western Avenue Shell (Divyansh Kumar Patel) received approval pending a certificate of occupancy, Department of Agriculture approval and surrender of the establishment’s existing permit. MAPCO 882 (7301 Middlebrook Pike) arrived later and was also approved pending the same documentation.

Mister Byrd, representing the business tax/permits office, told the board which specific documents were missing for each applicant. Officer Presley reported no adverse enforcement record for these applicants at the hearing. The board’s approvals were granted as "approved pending final documentation," meaning applicants must finish outstanding steps—such as zoning compliance, parking, or certificate-of-occupancy requirements—before receiving a final permit.

The board’s clerk, Mister Johnson, also reported on enforcement trends in the beer fund: four recent noncompliance complaints were filed, two of which (Tupelo Honey Cafe and Amelia) were closed after fines were paid; two new cases (Brother Wolf and Weigel’s No. 84 on Chapman Highway) were opened for failure to pay fines and hearings were scheduled for December.

The board’s next meeting is scheduled for Dec. 9, and the chair reminded applicants that documents must be delivered to the business tax office during regular hours if their permits are approved pending final documentation.