The Chattanooga restaurant scene was again one of transition in year three of the pandemic with several, including well-established eateries, closing and many new ones opening.
Several more expanded operations by adding new locations.
A tough economy and lack of staff were among the more common reasons for closing, according to restaurateurs. The restaurants that remained open, and new ones, told the Chattanooga Times Free Press they were only opening in limited capacities -- for either dinner or lunch -- because of lack of staffing.
Among the more notable closings were the first Bojangles in the area and Mojo Burrito, which closed its Red Bank operation.
Almost as many new locations opened in 2022 with Amada and Honey Seed opening on the Southside, while Wooden City opened near the Tennessee Aquarium.
Waffle House closed its East Brainerd and Brainerd stores with plans to rebuild new ones.
WHAT OPENED
-- Amada, a tapas and wine restaurant, opened in September on the Southside and features 30 small plates available with beer and wine.
-- Clever Alehouse at 2122 Dayton Blvd. opened in Red Bank and quickly became a place for the community to grab a bite or a beer and hang out.
-- El BBQ Mexique opened in September at 7655 East Brainerd Road featuring Tex-Mex food with barbecue pork, beef and brisket.
-- Honey Seed at 1705 Market St. opened in October specializing in Montreal-style bagels, wood-fired pizzas and sandwiches.
-- La Santa Mexican restaurant opened on River Street near Coolidge Park in November.
-- Portofino's Greek and Italian opened in a new space on Ringgold Road less than a block from its former home near Mack Smith Road next to Waffle House and Cracker Barrel.
-- Real Good Smokehouse opened in April in the former Rhythm & Brews space and will focus on smoked foods and not just meats.
-- Spanglish Modern Mexicano, at 5622 Highway 153, opened in September offering "Mexican food that has an American twist."
-- A new Taco Bell restaurant opened in late October at 3009 Silverdale Road, making it the second new Taco Bell location in the Chattanooga area in three months.
-- TailGate Brewery, a Nashville-based brewery opened in June in the former Terminal Brewhouse space near the Chattanooga Choo Choo on Market Street.
-- Volcano Korean BBQ, 2011 Gunbarrel Road, opened in September in the former location of The Chop House restaurant. It is an all-you-can-eat restaurant.
-- Whiskey Cowgirl, at 1819 Broad St., Unit 111, opened on Chattanooga's Southside in the building that also holds Gordon Food Service. The adults-only new bar/restaurant offers American cuisine.
-- Wooden City opened in September at 203 Broad St. in the space previously occupied by Easy Bistro, across from the Tennessee Aquarium. Based out of Washington state, the restaurant features an eclectic menu including wood-fired pizzas.
WHAT CLOSED
-- The Big River Grille & Brewing Works at Hamilton Place closed in late July.
-- The first Bojangles restaurant to open in the Chattanooga area has shut down. The 2,970-square-foot restaurant was at 4701 Hixson Pike. The company's sign and logo have been taken down.
-- Go Gyro Go, a restaurant that served authentic Greek and New York cuisine, closed its location at Germantown and Ringgold roads in October.
-- Heaven & Ale closed in August when owner Joe Winland had a chance to sell the business and get back into teaching.
-- Mojo Burrito closed its Red Bank location in June a year and a half after closing its St. Elmo store.
-- The Steak 'n Shake in Hixson shut down after operating for more than a quarter century at 5118 Hixson Pike.
-- Syrup and Eggs, which began in a St. Elmo fire hall in 2017 and has been located at The Dwell Hotel for the past three years, will close at the end of this month.
-- The Terminal Brewhouse near the Choo Choo closed in April.
-- A 43-year-old Waffle House restaurant located at Brainerd and Moore roads closed in October and will be demolished and replaced with a new and more modern design.
-- Ziggy's closed after 42 years on Cherokee Boulevard.
WHAT EXPANDED
-- A fourth Amigos Mexican Cocina opened in St. Elmo in August.
-- Chef Khaled Albanna opened Calliope in the Proof Incubator space on M.L. King Boulevard in August featuring Levantine cuisine with bright flavors, exotic spices and fresh ingredients, including seafood, vegetables and lamb.
-- Chattanooga's Cupcake Kitchen began offering some of its products in a vending machine at Hamilton Place mall.
-- In addition to their first drive-through coffee outlet in East Brainerd, the owners of Lola Beans Coffee opened a second and larger location in July in Cleveland, Tennessee.
-- A second Miller's Ale House opened in December at 574 Northgate Mall Drive.
-- Monkey Town Brewing opened a new location in Hixson at 724 Ashland Terrace.
-- Six years after launching Red Owl Coffee in South Georgia, the owners expanded to Chattanooga with the first shop at 7737 East Brainerd Road, which opened in October.
-- Taco Bell opened its fifth location in Cleveland, Tennessee, at 3089 Pleasant Grove Place SW.
-- Larry Torrence, the owner of Uncle Larry's Restaurant, opened a fourth Uncle Larry's restaurant at 8701 East Brainerd Road in November.
-- A new Wendy's restaurant opened in November on Gunbarrel Road two years after the closing of a nearby location on Shallowford Road.
Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354.