City Café provides update on new location

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – It’s always sad when a local treasure is closed.  The Chattanooga Longhorn is a perfect example, but sometimes these treasures are able to return to us. The Cookie Jar Cafe is a great example of a special piece of our culture making a return.

City Café closed their Downtown Chattanooga location back in June 2023. Their 20-year-old location, at 901 Carter Street, was closed as of Monday, June 26. It opened in 2003 and has been locally famous ever since.

The owner of City Café, Lee Epstein, says it was not his decision.

“The restaurant was located in a building owned by Hotel Bo, a Days Inn by Windham hotel,” Epstein said.

Epstein explains the closure was decided by the hotel owners. “They decided not to renew my lease,” Epstein said.

Originally, they planned to open their new location in the fall of 2023. That did not work out.

However, City Café recently told News 12 that they plan to open their new location by early March 2024.

It will be located at 511 Broad Street. Construction is currently underway at this location.