CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- A Chattanooga bar is finding itself at the center of an investigation following numerous complaints.
Parishioners at Islamic Center on Cemetery Avenue along with neighbors in the Chattanooga Southside say they’ve had a myriad of disruptions caused by the presence of the bar Shady’s Corner.
Nassem Mohammed, a parishioner, said, “I am really scared when my daughter says “I need to go and pray there.” A mosque is a place where we find peace and we should not be afraid to go to a place like that.”
The mosque is located right next to the bar on Cemetery Avenue.
Connie Harrell, a resident, said, “We have these disturbances in the wee hours, and we can’t sleep. It’s noisy. Our cars are damaged.”
These complaints have led the Chattanooga Beer Board to direct a Chattanooga Police officer to investigate Shady’s for disorderly conduct.
Board members say there have been over 500 emergency calls to the bar over the past two years.
Sgt. David Cowan of the Chattanooga Police Department says he did recently visit the bar and says it was not in violation of its beer license.
However, he noted another issue.
Sgt. Cowan said, “I can one hundred percent tell you that they have a parking lot issue after a certain hour. You have a lot of patrons in a very small place? I believe I was told they have seven parking spots… Everything with this parking situation is a snowball effect. You know you address one thing and it creates another issue.”
The Beer Board is directing Sgt. Cowan to investigate previous incidents at the bar to see if there are citations related to them.
They acknowledged their authority is limited.
Board member Christie Morris said, “I believe every last one of those people that came here and spoke, and to see them in so much distress and especially the people that are sickly. They are staying up until 3,4,5 o’clock in the morning while we’re sleeping, something needs to be done.”
The lead officer for the Beer Board said he has attempted to reach out to the bar’s owner, and has not heard back.
We also reached out to the owner, but have not heard back.
