CHATTANOOGA — The Chattanooga Beer Board deferred beer license applications for five businesses owned by Gabriel Sosa and Jesus Esquivel Serrano during its May 21, 2026, meeting due to unresolved questions about Esquivel Serrano’s citizenship and prior unlicensed beer sales. A motion passed to move the permit applications for all five establishments to the next board meeting.

The businesses—Cabana’s Night Club and Event Center at 1800 Rossville Ave., Chi Chi’s Charred Chicken at 811 Market St., two Mexiville locations at 809 Market St. and 103 Cherokee Blvd., and 423 Taco at 401 Market St.—have been cited at nearly every Beer Board meeting since November 2025. Regulatory officers found the businesses had sold beer for years without city licenses, resulting in four original citations for unlicensed sales.

Questions about Esquivel Serrano’s citizenship emerged as a separate but related concern affecting all five applications. Esquivel Serrano appeared at the May 21 meeting and said he had gone to Georgia to address the issue, stating his background issue was “fixed.” The Beer Board did not accept that the citizenship matter had been resolved.

Assistant City Attorney Kathryn McDonald said it seems like Esquivel Serrano is “just swearing to these things but there is no official verification from anyone else that what he is telling the board is legitimate.” McDonald added she could sign off on approving the beer licenses, but only after the Beer Board approves them.

A hearing officer had previously recommended a $1,000 fine for each of the four unlicensed sales violations. The citizenship question affects whether beer can be sold at all five restaurants in which Esquivel Serrano has ownership.