Sugar Mama’s – a bakery with beer and other foods – recently opened on the 100 block with the intention of trying a low key, soft kind of opening in order to get the kinks worked out. The plan went somewhat awry when word got out of the pending opening and a line formed down the block before they opened their doors on the first day.
Business has varied with the day since they opened. They’ve already made some changes during the initial period in response to requests. For example, people on the 100 block wanted to pick up food before work, so they’ve shifted their opening time to 7:00 AM Tuesday through Friday.
What you’ll find is a nice, new awning, expanded seating outside and inside and some very cool retro cafe tables and chairs. Two seats overlook the entire space from high in one of the window boxes. You’ll find a counter stocked full of cookies, baked goods and confections of every sort. The main wall is covered with art from the Weird Beard Art Armada, featuring work from Chris Johnson, who also works in the cafe, and Whitney Crowe. The art is for sale and 13% of the proceeds goes to Ijams or Tennessee Clean Water.
They are gradually working out their menu, experimenting with what sells well. Lunch offerings currently include chicken salad and brats. They will soon have gluten-free bread from Breadshed. Of course, they have twelve beers on tap, as well as a wide variety of canned and bottled beer. They are also have an “off premise permit,” meaning you can do a pick-six or grab a bottle or can or two to take home.
The breakfast menu currently includes German eggs (google it – if you ask, you become a tally mark on their chalkboard – There’s one up there for me.), it’s basically a casserole/quiche dish with eggs and cheese, but no crust. The breakfast menu is available any time, which is something people have asked for downtown. They also have coffee which I can personally vouch for. It’s freshly ground and roasted coffee from Epiphany (Columbian), City House Roasters (Costa Rican) or Spero (Ethiopian) and the cup I had was delicious. City House is planning a custom roast just for the business.
They are also planning activities, wanting to offer entertainment on the block which is currently missing. Sundays will feature ice cream sandwiches and food drives for various organizations. They are planning bingo, trivia night, music on a regular basis and comedy (this has already started on 4th Thursdays, with Shane Rhyne coordinating). They’ll also have a “Float Night,” with classic floats and beer floats for the adults.
The Grand Opening will be May 6 which is, of course, also First Friday. The evening will be a benefit for East Tennessee Children’s Hospital. They’ll have live music that night, door prizes and more. Don’t feel the need to wait until then to visit. They are currently open on Sundays from Noon to 6:00 PM, Monday from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM, Tuesday through Thursday from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM, Friday 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM and Saturday 9:30 AM to 11:00 PM.