Cambridge Square in Ooltewah
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.”