A former Chattanooga hotel and restaurant that nearly burned down last Friday is being repaired this week to restore the structure and perhaps reopen the business in the future.
Lamar's restaurant and hotel, which closed in 2017 but has remained under the ownership of the Lamar Partridge family, was damaged Friday night when a fire erupted in the vacant structure and fire crews had to break windows to put out the blaze.
The fire was detected Friday by the battalion chief for District 1, who was driving in the area and spotted smoke and reported flames coming out two windows on the side of the building. The Chattanooga Fire Department said it dispatched a full commercial response and sounded a second alarm a few minutes later because of the size of the building and the growing fire.
Although no firefighters were hurt battling the blaze, the windows were demolished, and initially, the city feared that one of the walls was compromised even as the fire continued to smolder.
Ellis Smith, director of special projects for Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly, said the structural damage to the two-story structure on M.L. King Boulevard caused the city to initially condemn the structure and post an emergency demolition order on the property.
But Smith said engineers and contractors hired by the owners of Lamar's met with city engineers Monday and convinced city inspectors to hold off on their demolition plans to allow the building to be repaired and the windows boarded up to ensure the structure is safe and in compliance with municipal building codes.
"In talking with the property owner, they have been very responsive, and they are working to remediate the problems," Smith said.
Lamar Partridge, a Chattanooga businessman who was formerly chair of the River City Co. and BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, couldn't be reached to discuss the family's plans for the vacant building. But the owners hired Tucker Build to make needed repairs. Jeff Cannon, the founder of Tucker Build, said the workers are trying to make both the immediate repairs needed to keep the structure safe while preparing for future work to possibly reopen the business.
"We talked around the clock to keep the building from being demolished, and the people with the city were great to try to come up with a solution and work with us to come up with a plan to prevent it from being torn down," Cannon said in a phone interview Wednesday. "Right now, we're working with engineers to stabilize the back corner of the facility and address the immediate public safety needs. At the same time, we're working with a plan to not just stabilize this site as a monument, but to possibly get it back opened up as a bar and restaurant. We're working with a couple of other people to make that happen."
Lamar's hotel and restaurant was built in 1970 but closed in 2017. The business was one among several hotels along the former "Big 9" Ninth Street business district that housed Black guests during Chattanooga's segregated past. Lamar's restaurant and bar later become a popular dining and entertainment spot for all races.
"Stiff drinks, great service and the best damn fried chicken since Aretha Franklin's in The Blues Brothers," Travis D White, one of the former patrons of Lamar's, recalled in a web post about Lamar's. "I had hoped that someone would buy the building and revive Lamar's. It's sad when the city destroys parts of our beautiful history."
For now, the building will be saved, but it remains uncertain when, or if, the hotel and restaurant will return.
The fire and repairs are similar to what occurred five years ago at another nightclub owned by the Partridge family. The Half Note and Whole Note restaurants at M.L. King Boulevard and Douglas Street, which are owned by Dedra Partridge, also suffered a fire in the vacant buildings in February 2017 after the businesses had shut down months earlier.
The city initially condemned the two-story building next to the Douglas Heights apartment complex. But repairs were made to ensure the building was safe. The structure remains vacant.
Reporter Barry Courter contributed to this report.
Contact Dave Flessner, who may be reached at dflessner@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6340.