Just when you thought the Southside was becoming the toney, trendy place to be - especially at the Southside Social, a bowling alley, bar and grill - it goes and gets all gentrified on you.
Of course, one look at the main photo on Southside Social's Facebook page should tell you all you need to know - lots of white faces, many in fancy dress.
Mind you, Southside Social advertises itself as a "family-friendly boutique bowling alley with 10 lanes of bowling and 3 bars" along with flat-screen televisions, pool tables, skee ball, pingpong, shuffleboard, giant jenga and an outdoor courtyard, that has fire pits, horse shoes and bocce ball.
But apparently management didn't think the photograph was getting through. So they devised a dress code. And it's not the usual "no shirt, no shoes, no service" dress code either.
"NO Backward ball caps, visors, do-rags or skull caps.
"NO Plain white tee shirts, sleeveless shirts, ripped or torn pants and cut-offs on men, jerseys unless attending a game day or sports promotion), excessively long shirts (shirts that hang below bottom of back pockets), loose or baggy clothing, gym clothes (including running/track suits or sweat pants), hooded sweatshirts, excessively long shorts (shorts below the knees), biker or gang colors, construction/combat shoes or boots, oversized chains or excessive jewelry, sunglasses after dark, clothing with offensive or foul messages, or see through and overly revealing clothing on women.
"NO back packs, gym bags or duffle bags."
There is pretty clearly a between-the-lines message here that sounds very much like: "We only want white, upwardly mobile customers dressed in green and yellow dresses and seersucker sport coats."
Clientele can't wear black, blue or red because those are gang colors. Can't wear a hooded sweatshirt (actually you probably can if you are white, since that's the only kind of casual jacket most people have). And just leave your Timberland boots in the car.
Needless to say, the Southside Social's Facebook website where the dress code was published filled with outrage over what the majority of commenters perceived as racially insensitive comments. At last count, the comments numbered more than 500.
The great majority of them read like this: "Hope ya'll have a good time going out of business #noracism."
And: "New dress code: Only white dudes named Brent, who can't stop talking about Crossfit and wear Easter colored shorts, are allowed in."
And: "Jeez am I getting into an airport or a bar? These are some of the dumbest rules I've ever seen for dress code."
And: "This is the legal way of saying: NO N*****S Allowed. All of you know I'm right."
And: "This is gentrification in your face folks! This is what happens when certain folks find property in the hood valuable, buy it, establish business, and seek not to serve its residents. The dollar is what keeps doors open, stop going! Make their pockets bleed! Obviously they want to keep the SSS very "pale" and soul less. Turn up elsewhere!"
Southside Social did respond to the barrage of comments, posting, in part: "It's a matter of safety and comfort for EVERYONE. We realize not all will agree with the dress code, but if you can't adhere to it, then you have many other options. Our goal is to ensure every one of our guests feels welcome and safe. If you disagree with this policy or aren't willing to dress to impress, then there are other options around town for you. We wish you all well, but wish for only the grown, sexy & mature crowd to party here. We're choosing to keep it classy Chattanooga. "
An owner told a reporter at Nooga.com that the dress code is aimed, in part, at keeping suspected gang members out.
"We are not allowing thugs in," Southside Social developer John Wise said, according to Nooga. "We are being proactive to try to make sure it's not a place [for them]." (Wise didn't return a call from the Times Editorial Page editor.)
Certainly businesses have a right to set rules, and safety is important. But so is tone. This dress code - along with its roll-out - is the complete opposite of "classy."
As a savvy commenter notes: "You cannot claim to represent ALL if you repeatedly use the word "classy." The concept of class divides ALL into parts. Good rule to live by: if you think something you do is not racist, and hundreds of people chime in to tell you it is indeed racist it's probably racist. Teachable moment if you embrace the growing pains."
So true.
Meanwhile, for all of us classless folks - black or white and whether we "dress to impress" or not - we'll just have to go party at some toney, trendy bowling alley bar and grill in Hixson.
Oh, wait, there is no "toney" in Hixson.
The trouble is, there seems to be no "toney" - or classy - in Southside, either.