Miguel Morales of 1885 Grill, Dustin Choate of Tremont Tavern and Chef Charlie Loomis, of 1885 Grill and formerly, Elemental, have partnered to open the newest Southside eatery, The Feed Co. Table & Tavern.
Slated to open on Aug. 4, the restaurant will be open Monday-Saturday for lunch and dinner.
This 250 seat restaurant and tavern will combine the classic burgers and fare of Tremont Tavern with the Southern flavors of the trios past. The Feed Co. Table & Tavern will feature locally sourced ingredients, fresh fish, craft beers and cocktails in a "laid back and family-friendly environment."
Mr. Morales, Mr. Choate and Mr. Loomis all met in 2006, but were all traveling different paths. Mr. Choate had just walked away from corporate America and his position in pharmaceutical sales to fulfill his dream of owning a burger and beer bar with Tremont Tavern. Mr. Loomis was busy raising a young family and commuting between Asheville and Chattanooga as the head chef for Green Life Grocery. Meanwhile, Mr. Morales was the managing partner of Carrabba’s Italian Grill.
In 2013, after almost 20 years of working in almost every area of the restaurant business, Mr. Morales' dream of opening his own restaurant came true in the form of 1885 Grill. Tremont Tavern was a local neighborhood bar near the North Shore becoming known for "great burgers." Mr. Loomis had also transitioned from Green Life Grocery to executive chef at Elemental.
The trio had always talked about going into a venture together and the conversations turned into reality with the concept of The Feed Co. Table & Tavern.
“Two of my best friends were willing to partner on the project and longtime friend and associate, Heather Wilson, was ready to be promoted to my right hand in managing,” said Mr. Morales.
They found the vacant space on West Main Street, the old Chattanooga Feed Company building. The process began in early 2014 and has been "a labor of love." Along with Cogent Studio and Croxall Construction Company, they took the raw space and began to make it into a space that reflected their vision. They called upon local firefighter Jonathan Lehman’s woodworking skills to transform 100-150 year old Heart Pine and White Oak. The design incorporates exposed brick and rustic wood accents with modern furnishings.
“The space will offer a little bit of something for everyone,” Mr. Morales says. There are four casual and unique dining areas. There is a traditional glass dining room, a section with tables overlooking the open kitchen, a bar area and the largest covered patio in Chattanooga. An arcade is also located off the bar area for entertaining the kids or some late night competition.
The Tavern side of the restaurant features a U-shaped bar complete with five televisions and 32 craft beers on tap. The bar has a long draw tap design that uses both carbon dioxide and nitrogen to produce the full head and crisp taste usually found in breweries.
The menu will include burgers, steaks and seafood along with an array of vegetarian options and daily specials.