A drawing of what the Chattanooga Choo Choo is proposing with its restoration project.Wow. Didn’t see that one coming, though in hindsight, there were some clues that something big was brewing.
Still, Jon Kinsey’s announcement Monday that the Chattanooga Choo Choo would be undergoing major renovations, with the addition of two new restaurants, a made-over 14th Street entrance and the relocation of The Comedy Catch, was surprising and welcomed. It will transform that part of town.
I talked to Comedy Catch owner Michael Alfano minutes after the announcement, and he was as excited as I’ve ever seen. It will be sad to see the club leave my neighborhood, but it’s understandable.
Alfano said the idea arose during a visit with Kinsey to discuss how the then-proposed sprinkler system ordinance might cripple Alfano. As they toured the Choo Choo grounds, Alfano commented on how cool it might be to better utilize the 14th Street area, creating a vibe like Nashville’s Printers Alley.
Some months later, Kinsey called to make a proposal. It was the proverbial too-good-to-pass-up idea.