Upscale cigar lounge coming to Ooltewah

photo Cambridge Square in Ooltewah
photo Ceniza is an upscale cigar and spirits lounge.

An upscale cigar and spirits lounge is the latest addition to Ooltewah's Cambridge Square mixed-use development at the corner of Ooltewah-Georgetown Road and Lee Highway.

The lounge, Ceniza, will occupy 4,500 square feet in an 8,000-square-foot building that is scheduled to go up this summer.

Ceniza is the product of husband-and-wife duo Danny and Brittany Alcala, Chattanooga residents.

The Alcalas also own and operate another lounge near Miami called the Foxhole.

Ceniza will feature hand-rolled, hand-made cigars from various places and a variety of drinks, including brandies, Scotches and cognacs. There also will be live music.

Cuban-born, Miami-raised Eddie Amoedo, executive chef at Ceniza, will serve up Cuban-style sandwiches and Caribbean-Cuban plates and appetizers.

"Our goal is to create an atmosphere that caters to people who are looking for something fresh and vibrant," said Danny Alcala in a release.

The space Ceniza is set to occupy will be two stories, with seating both upstairs and downstairs. There will also be patios on both levels, and a ventilation system to rid the interior of cigar smoke.

"We plan to make this a very fun, active space," said Brittany Alcala. "We want to provide a venue outside of downtown Chattanooga for people ho want to have a good time, eat good food and be entertained."

She also said in a release that Ceniza is "not a bar or a club," rather the couple is "targeting a demographic who has acquired a more sophisticated taste" and is looking for a place to spend time with friends, significant others or have casual business meetings.

The announcement that Ceniza will join Cambridge Square adds to the development's mix of single-family homes -- set to begin selling next year -- and a handful of other commercial tenants, including beyoga Ooltewah, IHP/Morning Pointe, Legacy Real Estate and Development, Lupi's Pizza Pies, Mixed-Up-Cup frozen yogurt, Southern Burger Co., Tedford Family Denistry and Wired Coffee.

"The Acala's are going to introduce a dining and entertainment experience that currently does not exist in the market," said Jim Cheney, marketing director for Barrier Properties, developer of Cambridge Square. "This announcement will kick-off what we anticipate to be a very busy summer at Cambridge Square."

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