When it comes his restaurants, it could be said Larry Torrence has been good about listening to other people's advice. Or, that doing so has worked out for him so far.
It was family and friends who convinced him to up his fried catfish game and take it from a hobby just for people he knew to opening a restaurant, which he did in 2013 when he opened Uncle Larry's Restaurant on M.L. King Boulevard.
It became so popular, people around town suggested he open one in their neighborhoods, so he opened one in the Ooltewah/Collegedale area, then another on Highway 58, and last year, a drive-through location on Brainerd Road. Shortly after he closed the Ooltewah location because of an issue with the lease, people started asking for a store in East Brainerd.
A fourth Uncle Larry's opened at 8701 East Brainerd Road last weekend, and Torrence said prior to Thursday's Chattanooga Beer & Wrecker Board meeting that it went very well, and people kept telling him they wished the menu contained a beer option and a maybe a mimosa.
"I've never had beer before, and it's a lot to think about, but we will try it," he said prior to the meeting. The board unanimously approved his application to sell beer at the East Brainerd location, and Torrence said he would look into getting a license from the Tennessee Alcohol and Beverage Commission, as well, so he can sell mimosas.
Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / Larry Torrence stands outside his new restaurant location on Oct. 6.The new store has indoor seating for about 40 people with a few outside tables and chairs, as well. It will feature the same selection of fried entree items like catfish, whiting, pork chops and shrimp, as well as sides like greens, beans, fries and hush puppies as his other locations.
Like the others, it will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Torrence said he plans to limit customers to two alcoholic drinks per visit. He said he will be the primary manager in charge of the East Brainerd location. His brother, Kevin, will remain at the Brainerd Road location, at least for the time being, and his son, Terrell, will continue to run the original MLK location, while nephew Jermale Maffett is in charge on Highway 58.
"It's a family thing, for sure," Torrence said. "We've been very blessed."
Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / Shameca Byrd packages a catfish plate at Uncle Larry's on Oct. 6.Torrence also said he constantly hears from Uncle Larry's diners that they'd love to see other stores open near them.
"I hear from people in Hixson and Soddy-Daisy all the time," he said. "They want us to come there."
Torrence said he is also looking at opening a location either on the Northshore or in the St. Elmo area to possibly replace the MLK location.
"Both of those areas are really developing," he said.
Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354. Follow him on Twitter @BarryJC.