75 Years of Southern Tradition

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – A Chattanooga favorite is celebrating a milestone this week. Bea’s Restaurant is turning 75.

Located on Dodds Avenue, right at the foot of the ridge, Bea’s has been serving up all-you-can-eat Southern comfort food since 1950. 

With its signature lazy Susans and family-style seating, the restaurant has become more than just a place to eat, it’s a tradition passed down through generations.

To mark the anniversary, Bea’s is offering a heartfelt ‘thank you’ to the community that’s kept them going for all these years: all-you-can-eat meals for just one dollar on Tuesday.

Bea’s has stayed in the same family for four generations, with each era preserving the same welcoming spirit and commitment to quality. 

It’s not unusual to see familiar faces week after week, sharing stories and memories around the table.

And in true Chattanooga fashion, when plans for commemorative T-shirts fell through, the community stepped up. 

A young local entrepreneur came to the rescue, creating new shirts on-site and helping bring the restaurant’s vision to life, turning a hiccup into a celebration of local talent.

After 75 years, Bea’s continues to prove that simple things, good food, good company, and strong community ties, never go out of style.