Fireside Lounge owner James Teligades, left, watches as chief electrical inspector David Martin, notes electrical violations during an inspection of the establishment. Building official Dallas Rucker, center, also participated in the inspection.City officials entered the Fireside Lounge on Thursday afternoon looking for building and code violations, just a couple of hours after the club had its beer license revoked.
"The whole city is converging on me," said James Teligades, owner of Fireside Lounge, as he watched inspectors comb the bar, looking for exposed electrical cords from the ceiling and other violations. "At this point it seems like someone is hellbent on getting me shut down."
The Chattanooga Beer and Wrecker Board revoked the bar's beer license Thursday in a 7-0 vote with two members absent.
The bar at 4021 Hixson Pike has been the subject of numerous complaints for noise, gunfire and illicit drugs, according to local residents and police reports. There have been 41 calls for service in the past six months, according to police, and 162 calls since 2008.
Nearly 20 residents of the Forest Plaza neighborhood, which sits behind the bar, signed a petition urging the beer board to revoke the license.
The revocation only applies to beer sales. Teligades still can serve hard liquor unless the state revokes his license.
Teligades said he plans to appeal the Beer Board decision and has retained an attorney. A county Chancery Court judge will hear the appeal. If the decision is upheld, Teligades will have to apply for a new license a year from now.
He has seven days to correct violations that city inspectors noted Thursday. Inspectors said there were minor problems that included incorrect use of extension cords, shelving problems and sticking doors.
"We're not on a witch hunt. We just want it safe," said David Martin, chief electrical inspector in the Public Works department.
The latest police incidents at the bar occurred just last week.
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Fireside Lounge
On Jan. 25, police responded to a call of shots fired at Fireside Lounge. When officers arrived, 50 to 75 people were leaving the club, according to police reports. After entering the bar, police said they found ashtrays containing marijuana.
On Jan. 29, neighbors called police to report gunshots fired in the club's parking lot.
No one was injured in either incident, according to police reports, but a man was arrested in one case.
Paul Payne, a Forest Plaza resident who has contacted authorities when incidents arise at the club, clutched bullet casings in his hand that he found near the club as he spoke to the board Thursday.
"Here's some of the proof of it right here," he said. "We're concerned about the situation. It's only going to escalate. ... What's more important - revenue and taxes or someone's life?"
Payne said his property is 50 feet away from the club's parking lot.
Two different caliber bullet casings - 9 mm and .32 caliber - were found in the parking lot, according to reports.
"It leads me to believe people were shooting at each other," said Beer Board member Kevin McKenna during the meeting.
Payne said he can hear bar patrons and police arguing in the Fireside Lounge parking lot when incidents occur.
"This crowd - you actually fear for their (officers') lives - it's going to turn into a full-fledged riot," he said during the meeting.
Since the Jan. 25 incident, Teligades said he increased security and posted a sign, reading, "No weed smoking inside. You will be asked to leave.."
Bar staff said they have contacted authorities when some incidents arise. However, police stated during the board meeting that bar management never calls.
"If I called every time somebody lit up a joint, the Chattanooga police would be out here on a regular basis," said Charles Root, Fireside manager.
Chattanooga police Sgt. Robert Simpson, who is in charge of nuisance and abatement, said there must be a pattern of life-threatening events in or on a property before the case can be taken before the judge to close a business.
Such incidents would include assaults, homicides and robberies. So far, the club's recent shootings were listed as "miscellaneous," according to police reports, and no one was injured.