Two Urban Stack alumni are taking over the former home of longtime North Shore staple North Chatt Cat and turning it into what they hope will be the "friendliest restaurant in town."
Jacob Mundy and Brett Allen are veterans of the Chattanooga restaurant scene, with over 15 years of experience between them. Their new eatery, Basecamp Restaurant and Bar, is planned to open to the public during the week of June 19 at 346 Frazier Ave.
"I've said from the beginning that it will be a Chattanooga-inspired restaurant," said Mundy.
The pair's love of craft beer and Southern-style comfort food is evident in the menu, which features local brews and Southern cuisine.
Both the restaurant's name and decor were borne from their love of the city's outdoor scene. The tables and bar were handmade by local artists and craftsmen using natural wood from around the area.
The name, Basecamp, is a popular mountaineering term that reflects what they hope the restaurant will become: a place for climbers, cyclists, kayakers and tourists alike to stop by before and after a trip into the great outdoors. Mundy is an avid rock climber, although he admitted he hasn't had as much time for the sport since starting work on the restaurant, and he said both he and Allen love hiking and camping in the natural areas around the city.
"We want the restaurant to be a reflection indoors of what is outside and around Chattanooga," Mundy said.
In addition, Mundy said he plans for his and Allen's business to become a fixture of Frazier Avenue and the community at large by running frequent specials and donating to local nonprofits and charities.
"We just want to serve good food and beer consistently," said Mundy. "This is our first ownership venture. We'd talked about it for a long time, and when the opportunity presented itself, we jumped at it."
The pair have worked at nearly every level of the restaurant business, from server to bartender to general manager. Mundy said the friendship and assistance of his fellow restaurateurs across the city helped make his and Allen's dream possible, and gave special thanks to Jason Bowers and Matt Skudlarek of The Bitter Alibi and The Daily Ration for providing guidance through the complicated process of building a restaurant.
"They've helped us deal with the unexpected curveballs that were sure to pop up in this," Mundy said. "They've been great friends to us."
While Basecamp will be opening its doors next week, Mundy said they're also planning a grand opening party for a few weeks later, but no date has been set yet.
For more information, visit facebook.com/basecampchattanooga.