Beer Board suggests citizens can go to chancery court to counter Shady’s Corner

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- Chattanooga Southside residents over the past few months have increasingly voiced their concerns over a popular bar.

These complaints in particular have been directed at the Chattanooga Beer Board.

Shady’s Corner on Cemetery Avenue has been the subject of scrutiny now for months.

Nearby residents and parishioners at a mosque next door describe feeling unsafe as Chattanooga Beer Board members say over 500 emergency callouts have been made at that bar.

Issues described by residents include a lack of parking and various disorderly conduct incidents.

The Beer Board authorized a Chattanooga Police officer to investigate the bar.

However, he did not find any violations that the Board could act upon.

The Beer Board has a limited scope primarily dealing with beer licenses.

However, one Beer Board member, Zachary Atchley, says that residents may have another way to address their concerns to the Hamilton County Chancery Court per state law.

He said, “Essentially upon a relation of 10 or more citizens and freeholder of the county were in such nuisance being exist in the manner here upon provided 10 or more citizens can bring an action to enforce a public nuisance.”

Effectively, this Tennessee statute requires a group of citizens to bring a public nuisance lawsuit to the Chancery Court.

We have reached out to the owner of Shady’s Corner multiple times for comment on these concerns, and have not heard back.

It is unclear if citizens or parishioners at the mosque plan to take any action.