The Riverside Grille was closed Monday, Feb. 1, 2016, and developers and businessmen Rick and Ryan Chinn announced the property on Melton Lake Drive has been sold to the Copper Cellar restaurant family. On Wednesday, March 30, the sign announced that the restaurant will re-open soon. (February 2016 file photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
Note: This story was last updated at 12:27 p.m.
Calhoun’s is opening a restaurant on the Oak Ridge waterfront. The restaurant will be on Melton Lake Peninsula, where Riverside Grille and Flatwater Grill used to be.
Calhoun’s has applied for a beer permit from the Oak Ridge Beer Permit Board, which will consider the application on Wednesday, April 6.
The restaurant will be owned by the Copper Cellar Corporation, which purchased the property from businessmen and developers Rick and Ryan Chinn in February.
It’s not clear when Calhoun’s will open. The beer permit application said the restaurant will open in April. Restaurant executives were not available for comment Wednesday.
On Wednesday, an electronic sign in front of the restaurant on Melton Lake Drive said the restaurant is re-opening soon.
The Chinns had owned the roughly seven-acre Melton Lake property for 10 years. They had a perpetual easement on it, which is like a long-term lease, from the Tennessee Valley Authority.
The Copper Cellar Family of Restaurants has owned the perpetual easement since February, including the land, the 12,000-square-foot building, and its parking lots.
Rick Chinn has called the Copper Cellar restaurant family the premier restaurant company in East Tennessee. He said he and Ryan Chinn, who are partners in R&R Investors, had done a fairly good job with the property, keeping it in pristine condition, “but we’re not restaurateurs.â€
Starting in 2007, the property, which is at the start of the 2,000-meter Oak Ridge rowing course, was home to Flatwater Grill. It was Riverside Grille for about four years. Both were upscale restaurants with a bar area.
There were some improvements made along the waterfront for a national rowing championship in 2007, including rip rap and docks.
The Beer Board meeting on Wednesday starts at 5:15 p.m. in the Oak Ridge Municipal Building Training Room. See the agenda here.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
Copyright 2016 Oak Ridge Today. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Stan R. Mitchell says
This is great news for Oak Ridge!! My thanks to all involved who helped make it happen. : )
Joseph Lee says
Stan, I agree completely. This is great news for the city and the water front. Thank you Rick and Ryan for doing this deal. Good job!
Leroy Gilliam says
What is the top selling price for commercial property in Oak Ridge. Sewart Norris sold it at approx. $550,000 to Rick Chinn who got a 10 year tax deferment and sold it at over $2 million and 50 citizens lost their jobs. This means he kept taxes of approx $50,000 city and county taxes over 10 years? Why can I not defer my taxes for 10 years for a senior complex?
Rachel Joffrion says
Personally I would like to thank the 50 wonderful people I worked with at Riverside who all lost their jobs that morning they showed up for work. I think it’s funny how quiet the Copper Cellar family has been about the whole deal. And it sure doesn’t leave me feeling like it’s great for Oak Ridge just another restaurant owner that doesn’t care about their employees or their community.
Sam Hopwood says
I am sorry that you and the other employees were treated so shabbily. Some business owners value their employees and some do not. it is rather clear that the Riverside owners did not. That will usually come back to bite them.
Leroy Gilliam says
THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A GROWING EXPERIENCE ABOUT LETTING PEOPLE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEM BUT LIFE SOMEHOW ALLOWS THIS TO EXIST AND IT SHOWS HOW MUCH RESPECT BOSSES HAVE FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES. SOME DO AND OTHERS DON’T GROW UP BECAUSE SOCIETY ALLOWS THIS TO GO ON TIME AFTER TIME .
Amanda Inman says
Restaurants are always quiet in preparation for new additions, just as restaurants are usually quiet in permanently closing or going out if business. You said it yourself… Copper Cellar FAMILY. This family of restaurants cares about family, their employees and the community. It is not a corporation where you do not see the owner. Mike Chase recognizes employees by name. Any of the wonderful people who worked at Riverside will be welcome to apply for employment once Calhouns reaches the hiring step in their opening.
Emilee says
Excellent news for Oak Ridge! Calhouns will be a GREAT addition to Oak Ridge. Thank you to all who made this happen!
Philip W Nipper says
I smells me some cornbread boss!
Joseph Lee says
“All I wants me a little cornbread!”
Sam Hopwood says
This location opened many years ago as Gregory’s, by Seward Norris. Since then it has gone through many openings and closings and for whatever reasons, has not been able to succeed. Maybe the nth time is the magic bullet. I hope it is. We shall see.
Ray Evans says
Why do you think the Riverside wasn’t successful? Just curious.
Sam Hopwood says
Good question. The Chins are astute business folks. Why would they sell it, if it was making them a decent profit? I don’t think they would. But that’s just my take on it.
Raymond Charles Kircher says
The Chinn’s are not restaurant people. The Chinn’s did a land swap with some swampland and upgraded some property at the taxpayer’s expense with a 10 year TIF. As long as the checks from the IDB were coming in, they held the restaurant, but as soon as it expired, the city gets swampland and the Chinn’s cash in their pocket. So the question is, how can a Calhoun’s opening be called great? I mean, it is a restaurant. As Mike Chase how cheap you have to be to churn a profit on a restaurant.
johnhuotari says
Hi, Raymond.
I covered the TIF approval back in the mid-2000s, and although I don’t recall all the details, I believe the TIF was used for shoreline improvements such as the riprap (shoreline rocks) and starting docks. I don’t recall what else it might have been used for, if anything.
I think the TIF, which was approved by the city a decade or so ago, is at or near its end. That was addressed at a recent IDB meeting, although I don’t remember the precise end date.
I’m not sure what land swap and swampland you’re referring to. I’m not aware of the city getting any swampland under the current deal.
I’m also not sure what you mean regarding IDB checks coming in. My understanding of a TIF is that it uses new tax revenues at a site to help pay for development at the site. I don’t know the mechanics of exactly how that works in terms of money flow, but I’ve never heard anyone talk about the IDB writing checks in regards to a TIF.
My personal opinion regarding the new Calhoun’s restaurant: As an Oak Ridge resident and as a business owner, I look forward to seeing the site continue to prosper and wish the new owners and new restaurant much success.
Thank you,
John
Ray Evans says
There is no TIF. There is however a PILOT. Not the same thing. I don’t recall the details of the PILOT but they are public record.. The IDB doesn’t write checks in either case.
Raymond Charles Kircher says
The special tax structures in place for 100 Melton Lake Peninsula are not easily found, in fact the IDB blocks access to documents regularly. Really, a PILOT that was for a restaurant in an area of town that doesn’t have any economic blight. I will be asking everyone in Nashville to audit this board. I never have understood PILOTS to go to such a low priority economic area. The IDB is a borrowing authority, of course they have a checking account and write checks all the time. That will be in my letter to those in Nashville to audit the Oak Ridge Industrial Board. There is something amiss with such a plan and I suspect monies were redirected to certain people, which brings up the payments made for the bathrooms at the park. I suspect a lot of laws were circumvented and could be worthy of an audit of the project. Chinn completely stripped the building, and to say no building remodeling was done is an outright lie. That Chinn property paid $0 in taxes to the city for the 10 years that family owned it.
Joseph Lee says
Ray, I would love to be in the room when the folks in Nashville get you letter. I would be willing to bet that only a few minutes will pass between the ending of their laughter and the placement of you correspondence in the round file. I would love to meet you at Calhoun’s sometime for lunch to discuss these matters so long as your head doesn’t explode and get all over my food. BTW, there was an audit of the bathroom project and it came back clean. You should do a better job of keeping up with the facts. It would be easier than just making up your own. Thanks.
Raymond Charles Kircher says
Time will tell, but in the meantime, tell us how many hours you logged at bathroom.
Matt Bailey says
I’m sorry Raymond, but really, this is the most absurd, crude, and bizarre comment ever. A story about a regional chain of quality restaurants, which should be something we celebrate, has run off the track. Citizens have been clamoring for this for years. Properly promoted, this might even give all the DOE folks who stay in Knoxville for meetings a reason to stay here, eat here, spend some cash here. Calhoun’s is a professional organization of people who know how to cook, serve, and promote – and make money. What the discussion really should be about is “has council / city reached out to inquire as to what Oak Ridge could do to make this a positive & profitable experience”? As much as they cater, you’ve got a natural for rowers and fans to eat outside there. They have bands during the summer and fall on the river in Knoxville….hopefully we can jump on that as well. I can easily see a lack of space becoming a problem, and then you can complain about the extended wait time.
johnhuotari says
Raymond,
Just my personal experience: As best as I can recall, I’ve always been able to get documents that I’ve requested from the IDB. The city has an open records request procedure that should help. You go to the City Clerks’ Office and fill out a public records request form outlining what you’re requesting. Do you have a specific document or documents that you requested from the IDB that you haven’t been able to get?
In the past, in the few cases that I’ve had trouble getting the information that I’ve requested—information that I thought should be public—I’ve gone through the Tennessee Office of Open Records Counsel. You should be able to get their contact information online. They’ve always been helpful. None of those cases related to the IDB.
Regarding the tax incentive for the Melton Lake Peninsula property, I believe there might have been some objections to the incentive at the time, but the agreement was approved and it’s now almost over. Those meetings were public and were covered in the media and anyone who has objections to agreements like those is welcome to attend the IDB meetings, which are public, to voice their concerns. I know I try to write at least a short story ahead of any meetings where a tax incentive agreement might be discussed in order to give our readers advance notice of the meeting and a chance to attend. I hope that helps.
This story wasn’t really about tax incentives, but I’ve allowed comments on it because the Melton Lake property is affected by a tax incentive.
We do try to ensure that Oak Ridge Today is a credible source of information. That extends to some extent to the comment section, although I’m not able to moderate or fact-check every comment. I think you’ve made a few claims here that require some additional information or evidence or a source that you can point to. The first is your claim that the IDB regularly blocks access to documents. Can you tell me what documents were requested, when, by whom, and what the response was? Also, you said the Chinns have paid $0 in taxes on property (I assume you mean the Melton Lake Peninsula property) for 10 years. Do you have a source that you can cite on that statement?
Thank you,
John
Matt Bailey says
Mr. Evans, it’s quite clear there are some in this community who’s only joy is to come here and gripe. Apparently, you must have cut line in front of them at a movie and you’ve never been forgiven. Interestingly, since the marina bathrooms just came up, my plumber came to my house yesterday (he’s a life long Oak Ridger and licensed plumber) and he said it was a great job, that the city outdid themselves, and he was surprised it didn’t cost more. I’m not making this up!!
As Sam says, I’ll take cover and await the grief.
Philip W Nipper says
Actually Matt, your plumber is a transplant to OR although he has lived here since the mid 1970’s. As a fellow plumber and a casual acquaintance of your plumber, I would concur with his comments, on THIS issue! There was a great deal more than plumbing that was required including I believe some sewer pump upgrades, roofing system upgrades and electrical upgrades among others. But anyway, I don’t want to get in trouble with John by not sticking to the issues for this story so I will simply say that I am pleased to have Calhoun’s come to town and I hope they do well. I think they will.
Joseph Lee says
Mr. Nipper, I agree completely. I hope they serve cornbread.
Philip W Nipper says
Rest easy ole Joe. They do indeed have them some cornbreads. Now who could argue against BBQ pork AND cornbread?
Leroy Gilliam says
PILOT OR TIF ITS STILL USING TAXPAYER MONEY TO SUBSIDIZE ONE TAXPAYER IS IT NOT?
Raymond Charles Kircher says
Don’t bother refreshing yourself with the facts, but don’t forget the swampland land swap deal.
johnhuotari says
Raymond,
As I said before, I covered the tax incentive discussion related to the Flatwater Grill site back in the mid-2000s, and I don’t recall any discussion of a “swampland land swap deal.” If you can point me to a source, I’ll be happy to take a look.
Thank you,
John
Leroy Gilliam says
JOHN
DO YOU NOT HEAR A BIG SUCKING SOUND FOR ALL THE TAXPAYER MONEY THAT HAS BEEN ALREADY BEEN FLUSHED DOWN THE JOHN !!! JOSEPH LEE AND RAY EVANS KNOW ALL ABOUT THE DEALS.
Joseph Lee says
While I can not speak for Mr. Evans, I do know this. I have forgotten more about these deals than you ever have known or will ever know. You can, if you like, just make up your own set of facts but that will only make you look even more foolish than you already do. I’m looking forward to seeing you and everyone else down at Calhoun’s, that is if you can find a place to park. Fix your cap lock key. Capitalization dose not turn your stupid statements into facts. Please make a note of it. Thank you.
Mr. Huotari, it may be time to do your thing with this thread. Your call. Thanks.
Leroy Gilliam says
SHOW EVERYONE HOW MUCH YOU BELIEVE IN FREEDOM OF SPEACH AND LET THE VULTURES; GET YOU TO SHOW HOW THEY CAN HAVE THEIR WAY. REMEMBER ALONG WITH TOLERANCE COMES RESPECT.
Ray Evans says
The property was transferred to the IDB on 1 January 2008.
Raymond Charles Kircher says
that is just your opinion.
Ray Evans says
Deed Book 1471 Pages 1982-1984 recorded in the Anderson County Register’s office.
Raymond Charles Kircher says
John, the land swap happened before the tif. Sorry to hear your memory is going down the drain. Think about what you said, how can a land swap happen if there were a special tax abatement on the property? It couldn’t.
Raymond Charles Kircher says
Research the parcel directly across melton lake drive from the Calhoun’s property. That lot was swapped for the land at the end of the peninsula. This happened to extend the parking lot along the riverfront. I have done my work and have my resources. I’m sorry you missed out on that bit of news that mostly everyone thought was insignificant back then. The city was smoked, taxpayers lose covering a lot for decades then just to give it away for this, a complete shame.
Ray Evans says
My recollection is that the property was originally constructed as the “Port of Oak Ridge” by TVA during the reservoir impoundment in the early 1960s.
The land was never used as a port to my knowledge. In the late 1970s a group attempted to convince TVA to sell them the land in Anderson County across the lake and between the shoreline and the railroad. The intent was to construct a coal barge terminal. Fortunately that idea had strong resistance and never happened.
The “port” property laid vacant until 1985 when Seward Norris and TVA negotiated permanent easement in order for Norris to construct a restaurant.
johnhuotari says
Thank you for the additional info, Ray. I’ve heard a bit about the proposed coal barge terminal, but all of that happened before I lived here.
Ray Evans says
I believe that the Riverside was successful. It’s usually better to sell when things are good than when things are bad. That being said, it’s really none of our business, rather a private matter between the Chinns and Chase.
Raymond Charles Kircher says
I disagree, the Chinn’s accepted taxpayer funds for support of their retail establishment. It is all of our business, not just the rip-rap or swampland.
Leroy Gilliam says
THEN WHY FIRE THEIR EMPLOYEES ?
Leroy Gilliam says
TWO REASONS —–RICK CHINN DID NOT WANT TO INVEST SINCE HE WAS GOING TO SELL THE BUSINESS OR HE DID NOT WANT TO GIVE HIS RESTAURANT MANAGER EXTRA MONEY TO ADVERTISE FOR A BUSINESS THAT WAS FOR SELL.
CHINN DOES NOT HAVE THE RESERVES TO MANAGE RESTAURANTS.
Joseph Lee says
Leroy, please have your keyboard cleaned. I think your cap lock key is stuck. Thanks.
Leroy Gilliam says
YOU ARE THE ONE WHO WORKS FOR ME; SO MAYBE YOU ARE MISSING A FEW BUSINESS DEALS, THANKS. ITS APRIL FOOLS DAY!!!
Joseph Lee says
You are not making any sense Leroy. I commend your consistency.
Have have you inspected Calhoun’s parking lot yet?
Leroy Gilliam says
NO THEY HAVE NO DANDELIONS GROWING WILDLY !!!
johnhuotari says
Sam,
Do you remember how long Gregory’s was in business, or what followed it? I wasn’t here at the time, but I think I’ve heard of a restaurant called the Rusty Pelican at that site as well.
Thank you,
John
Sam Hopwood says
John,
I don’t recall how long Gregory’s was in business, but it opened with a flourish.. Special dinner with the city council in attendance etc. I recall the Rusty Pelican but not any of the others. I hope this venture is successful. It has always seemed to me that this is an ideal location for a nice eatery and watering hole. Maybe Chase can make it work.
Raymond Charles Kircher says
Don’t get me wrong, but the ushering in of a BBQ restaurant is nothing but symbolism to those who know. The City of Oak Ridge was smoked. They won’t attract any homeowners, nor will they attract any business. The only future impact this will create is maybe Buddy’s BBQ will remodel their retail establishment here in Science City.
johnhuotari says
Raymond,
This is a free-market deal, so I’m not sure how the city was “smoked.”
I haven’t heard Calhoun’s promise to attract homeowners or other businesses. I suspect they would like to sell food and drinks and make a profit, and based on the traffic to this story, it looks like a lot of people are excited about that.
Thank you,
John
Raymond Charles Kircher says
John, your misunderstanding may be tied to your waistline. We got nothing from this deal.
Leroy Gilliam says
Taxpayer funds should not go towards a business but towards a NEW SENIOR CITIZEN COMMUNITY COMPLEX FOR 2016. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN BUILT 10 YEARS AGO. NOW TAX MONEY IS BEING DISTRIBUTED TO LOCAL REAL ESTATE AGENTS FOR THEIR FUN AND PROFIT.
Leroy Gilliam says
THE CITY COULD HAVE BUILT A SENIOR CITIZENS COMPLEX THERE OR USED THE MONEY TO PAY FOR OTHER CITY PROJECTS RATHER THAN ADDING TAX DEFERMENTS TO AN INDIVIDUAL —–THIS COULD HAVE BENEFITED HUNDREDS OF TAXPAYERS IN OAK RIDGE..
johnhuotari says
Hi, Leroy.
Our commenting guidelines ask those who comment here to please keep their comments to a reasonable number per article. I interpret that to mean, and I’ll try to update the guidelines to say this, that we also ask you to not post the same comment or variations of the same comment, or similar comments, on multiple articles. I think you’ve made your position clear on the senior center, and we would ask you to not continue posting comments about the senior center on stories like this one that are not related to the senior center. That’s per the third guideline above: Stick to the issues.
Thank you for your patience and understanding. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Thank you,
John
Leroy Gilliam says
jOHN SORRY IF i DO NOT MARCH TO YOUR DRUMMER BUT IS TAXPAYER MONEY THE SAME.?
johnhuotari says
Leroy,
I’m not sure I understand the question. I’m just asking you to please respect our posting guidelines, which ask you to please keep your comments (on one topic) to a reasonable length and number.
Thank you,
John
Leroy Gilliam says
IS CALHOUHN ‘S DOING A TAX DEFERMENT?
johnhuotari says
Leroy, if I recall correctly, the existing tax incentive continues under the new owner. I believe that went through the IDB in February. There may be one year of so left in that agreement.
I am not aware of a request for a new tax incentive.
Raymond Charles Kircher says
The tif was issued march 2006 and expired Feb 2016. For 10 years the chinns avoided paying taxes to both the county and city while the idb borrowed money to pay for the work at 100 Melton lake peninsula and he also land swapped swampland for riverfront property and then sold it not for excellence but profit on taxpayer funds. What did the city get, swampland and a restaurant that isn’t in an economic blight area. You have any swampland to sell the city?
Mark Caldwell says
I like barbecue!
The property appears to be in great shape. Hope all goes well.