Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly issued an executive order Thursday requiring Station Street businesses to stop serving alcohol by 12:30 a.m. and to close by 1 a.m., citing a concern for public safety.
The order, which will be in effect for 15 days starting Friday, is a response to “a recent increase in violent incidents in the Station Street district and out of a concern for public safety,” according to a city news release. The order also prohibits patrons from bringing open containers with alcoholic beverages outside establishments and onto Station Street.
Kelly is asking the businesses to create a security plan for the district.
“Chattanooga’s nightlife is an important part of our vibrant culture, but a thriving nightlife must also be safe,” Kelly said in the release. “I’m taking executive action to hit reset on Station Street to ensure that our residents and tourists remain safe and that our local businesses are a part of a sustainable, long-term safety plan that allows our city to have a safe, thriving nightlife.