Knoxville Beer Board approves several permits, grants widespread extensions to June

The Knoxville Beer Board on March 19 approved a slate of permit requests and granted extensions—frequently to June—for applicants still completing final documentation, city inspections or training.

The board approved the Arab Fest permit for 415 South Gay Street as presented by Noah Dunwoody, and approved Fanatic Brewing’s application after the applicant gave name and address and staff confirmed files were complete. The board also approved Muse Knoxville and Makers Incorporated for a "Taste of Tennessee" festival, with approvals subject to submission of outstanding final documents where noted.

Several applicants received extensions. Board members repeatedly granted time to complete outstanding items—typically a certificate of occupancy, health-department approval, background checks or participation in the required CAST class—commonly setting the return date to the June meeting. Councilman Roberto and others emphasized that applicants close to originally approved deadlines might need to repeat background checks if they return near prior approval dates.

"If you get too close to that July date, typical policy for the beer board would have you go through the background check again," Councilman Roberto said during an extension discussion, advising applicants to plan accordingly.

Among the addendum items: Dash and Go (Tamela Harper) described delays obtaining building plans and asked for more time; the board approved a 90-day/June extension. Monday Night Brewing (2110 Chapman Highway) said it expects to open soon in a Kearns Bakery redevelopment and the board approved the permit pending final documentation. Yeehaw/EHA Brewing’s planned expansion will require a parking variance; representatives said they filed for that variance with the Board of Zoning Appeals and asked the beer board for an extension while zoning is resolved; the beer board extended the application to give time for the BZA process.

Votes at a glance (select motions recorded in the meeting): Arab Fest (6a) — approved; Fanatic Brewing (6b) — approved; Fiore Bar and Lounge (6f) — approved pending certificate of occupancy and health approval; Makers Incorporated (6i) — approved; Monday Night Brewing (6j) — approved pending documentation; multiple addendum items — extensions granted (many to June).

Board members and staff repeatedly reminded applicants that permits approved "pending final documentation" require those documents to be submitted to the business tax office during regular hours and that permits would not be issued until files were complete.

The meeting concluded after the board revisited addendum items and granted extensions where appropriate.