Beer Board Finds Mango’s Island And Grill Violated Special Gathering Regulations

  • Thursday, May 3, 2018
  • Gail Perry

Mango’s Island and Grill, 1622 Dodds Ave., is opened from11 a.m. until the early morning hours of 4, 5 or 6 a.m., Norma Ferrer, owner of the business told the Chattanooga Beer Board at the Thursday morning meeting. She said that it is operated as a restaurant and that she serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.

At 4:30 a.m. on April 23, she said customers were having breakfast and drinking beer when the Chattanooga Police responded to a complaint of loud music. The city of Chattanooga interpreted the actions of the business differently. They saw it as operating an event hall which would require a special gathering permit. This location is unable to obtain a permanent beer permit because the building is too close to several churches and day care centers, making it illegal to sell beer, but brown bagging is allowed as long as the event closes by midnight.  

The responding officer walked through the building and observed what he said was “essentially a bar,” with a cooler and cash box in one room and Crown Royal bottles sitting around. There was a kitchen and there was someone doing food prep, he said. A DJ was set up with a very large system, so loud that he was unable to hear, he told the beer board. He said all the people inside had liquor or beer and he observed beer being sold from behind the counter. There was also an employee collecting a cover charge at the door but not doing a security check.

On a second visit to the business at 1:30 a.m. on April 24, a second police officer observed the actions of the bar from outside when responding to another complaint from neighbors of loud music. He said there were at least eight cars in the parking lot at the time. During a third visit on April 26 at 1:05 a.m., officers found the same scenario.

Conditions that qualify as a special gathering include customers paying any fee including paying for food, if there is alcohol present and if the gathering continues past midnight. A special gathering at a business requires a permit from the city. Ms. Ferrer said she was unable to find a security company for the building, another requirement for the permit, so the application was never completed. She also told the board that she was out of town on the second and third police visits and her partner allowed the special gatherings without her knowledge.

The board reaffirmed that the activities at the business was a violation of the special gathering permit ordinance. Each of the three violations can be cited to city court, said Assistant City Attorney Keith Reisman.

Narcotics and Vice police officers alerted Officer John Collins with the Chattanooga Beer Board, that a search warrant had been obtained for Rossville Billiards, 4205 Rossville Blvd., based on the observation of constant traffic coming and going, almost like a drive-through, it was said. People did not stay inside long enough to buy anything from a bar, said Officer Collins, who on April 4, observed the search on behalf of the Beer Board.

Earlier, undercover officers had bought drugs inside the building. During the search, a cooler with many type of drugs and drug paraphernalia was found within easy view of the bartender, leading the police to believe that the owner of the business knew what was going on. Drugs were also seen being dropped into a trash can and were found on customers inside. Three frequent customers of the business were arrested. “It was so blatant,” said Officer Collins. Attorney Johnny Houston representing Rossville Billiards asked Officer Collins if he had seen anyone actually selling drugs. “They usually quit selling when we show up,” he answered.

Sales to undercover officers, a cooler with a lot of drugs in such a small place—if the owner is not aware of drug sales, he is not running his business the right way, said Beer Board Member Christopher Keene, who made the motion to suspend the beer license for 15 days for the charge of running a disorderly place. The motion passed unanimously. The penalty will start on May 10.

During compliance checks done by the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission three businesses were caught selling beer to a minor. Spare Time, 5518 Brainerd Road, agreed to accept the violation which will receive the same punishment issued by the TABC. This violation was the third for the business for the same offense since June, 2017. The penalty for the latest violation on Nov. 28, 2017 received a 30 day suspension of the beer permit and will start on May 10.

Famous Dave’s, 2122 Gunbarrel Road, sold beer to an undercover minor on Feb. 8, 2018, just 22 months after another violation of sales to a minor. The beer board mirrored the penalty that was given to the restaurant by the TABC, suspension of the beer permit for two days. The penalty will begin on May 10.

Red Lobster, 2200 Bams Drive, in the Hamilton Place area, also sold beer to a minor undercover customer on Feb. 9, 2018. This third violation in three years for the same offense was given a penalty of 30 days without use of a beer license, starting on May 14. It will run concurrently with the 30 day suspension of the business’ liquor license given by TABC.

R.E.I. will be opening in Chattanooga this month. The “soft opening” will be held on May 11 and the grand opening is on May 18.  To introduce the business to the city and “connect with the public,” two special events have been scheduled. R.E.I. Play Days: Tunes & Brews @ Crabtree Farms will be held on May 5 from 5 until 10 p.m. This family friendly event will be open to the public as long as parking spaces are available. There are spaces for 250 vehicles.  

The second special event is the R.E.I. Store Preview Party and will be held at the store which is located at 2507 Lifestyle Way on May 11 from 6-9 p.m. This will be a by invitation only event.

Jack’s Bait & Tackle, 4228 Bonny Oaks Dr., was unanimously approved for a new beer permit because of an ownership change. Kimberly Hope Trotter is taking over the business after the death of her father. The business was started by her grandfather and run by her dad for the past 50 years, and Ms. Trotter said she has chosen to keep it open.

 

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