North Shore eatery closes as restaurant industry sees changes

In this Sunday, Jan. 10, 2016, staff file photo, the sign for Full Moon American Burger and Bar is shown at the intersection of Cherokee Boulevard and North Market Street in Chattanooga.
In this Sunday, Jan. 10, 2016, staff file photo, the sign for Full Moon American Burger and Bar is shown at the intersection of Cherokee Boulevard and North Market Street in Chattanooga.

Chattanooga's North Shore has lost an eatery with Full Moon American Burger and Bar closing after about 18 months as downtown's restaurant scene continues to undergo change.

Full Moon opened in April of last year on the ground floor of the Bridgeview building at the high-profile North Market Street and Cherokee Boulevard intersection.

Restaurant owner Krist Biba said Wednesday he's hopeful another eatery will go into the site. He said he had nothing negative to say about doing business on the North Shore.

Atlanta restaurant broker Steven Josovitz, whose group had been trying to sell the restaurant for about $450,000, said Biba "had a great management team."

photo The first-floor corner space of the building at the intersection of Cherokee Boulevard and North Market Street held Full Moon American Burger and Bar.

But, he said, sometimes the first user and creator of a restaurant space does all the work and doesn't make it. Then, a second operator moves into the space without having to spend the initial build-out money and acquires "a second- generation restaurant," said Josovitz of The Shumacher Group.

Biba said last year he was spending between $800,000 and $1 million on Full Moon, which seated 164 patrons and employed 30 to 35 workers. He also owns Biba's Italian Restaurant in Hixson.

Amy Donahue, director of marketing and communication for the nonprofit downtown redevelopment group River City Co., said there are many successful restaurants on the North Shore.

"It's surrounded by a lot of residential properties which is always viewed favorably by restaurateurs," she said.

Donahue cited an 84-unit apartment complex a block from Full Moon being developed by Vision Hospitality Group. Also nearby, the former Loft restaurant site at Cherokee and Manning is to hold 185 apartments in a $37 million development that's underway.

But Chattanooga developer John Wise opened a North Shore restaurant, Sip Coffee + Kitchen, earlier this year, and later closed it. North Shore restaurateurs Daniel and Brittany Alcala have plans for another eatery at that Velma and Kent street site that's a block off of Cherokee.

Across the river, Chattz just closed its coffee and wine bar on Market Street at The Block. Applebee's closed this summer at Market and Fourth streets as did The Henpecked Chicken next door.

On the Southside, Porker's Bar-B-Que on Market was shuttered this summer after 28 years, citing increased costs and low sales due to increasing competition. Also, the English Rose tearoom closed after 20 years at its 1401 Market St. location.

At the same time, new eateries are opening or planned. The former Sugar's Ribs location on Broad Street is holding a new restaurant called the Mayan Kitchen. A Shula's 347 Grill is scheduled to open at Eighth and Pine streets across from a new Westin hotel developed by brothers Ken and Byron DeFoor.

Donahue said River City officials sometimes hear from restaurateurs that it's difficult to find a space already built out for a food service concept.

"So in that regard, the build out of the space would be beneficial for someone looking for a restaurant," she said about Full Moon.

Contact Mike Pare at mpare@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6318.

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