(Be)Caffeinated opening fourth Chattanooga location

Photo by Tierra Hayes / Be Caffeinated offers a special blend of matcha and chai called the Witch's Brew.
Photo by Tierra Hayes / Be Caffeinated offers a special blend of matcha and chai called the Witch's Brew.

Apparently, Chattanoogans do indeed like to be caffeinated.

Owners Christopher Wood and Douglas Lee will be opening a fourth location of (Be)Caffeinated in the next couple of months at 1263 E. 3rd St. across from Warner Park. Lee said by phone that the exact open date is not certain "as there is still a lot of work to be done on the building, but we are hiring people and equipment has been ordered and once that happens, things tend to go pretty quickly."

He said there is some serendipity to the new location as it was originally a Central Park hamburger restaurant similar to the original (Be)Caffeinated opened by Wood and Lee in July of 2018 on Dayton Boulevard. Lee said the deal for the fourth location was not planned and happened very quickly.

He said he was out of town when Wood got a call from a mutual acquaintance telling him about the location. Wood went and looked and called his partner asking if he was ready for a new place.

"Within about five days, we went from not even thinking about a new place to signing a lease," Lee said.

It's proof to him that there is a demand.

"The coffee business in Chattanooga is very strong," Lee said.

He also said locals like their coffees flavored. Their signature drinks outsell all others with the Chattahooligan, a white chocolate and caramel blend, the Gig City Mocha with caramel and chocolate and the Honey (Bee) with honey and vanilla.

Lattes are next on the list.

"People like being able to create their own flavors," Lee said.

In addition to the Dayton Pike location, (Be)Caffeinated operates from 6 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday and 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays at 14 W. Kent St. on the North Shore and on the campus of Chattanooga State Community College.

He said while the building has two drive-through windows, Lee and Wood will likely close one and perhaps put a patio in the unused space for a couple of tables and chairs.

The growing business was recognized during Startup Week last year as the people's choice winner.

Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354.

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