Ghosts of Cherry Street Tavern

One of the most frequently reported phenomena at Cherry Street Tavern involves a ghostly bartender who appears when the bar is closed or nearly empty. Staff members closing up for the night have reported seeing a figure behind the bar, dressed in clothing from an earlier era, appearing to wipe down glasses or organize bottles.

When approached, this phantom bartender typically vanishes without a trace. Some employees believe this spirit is a former bartender who loved the tavern so much in life that he continues his work in death.

Glasses have been found moved from their storage locations, bottles rearranged overnight, and the distinct sound of ice being scooped has been heard when no one living is present. One bartender reported arriving to open the tavern and finding freshly wiped glasses arranged on the bar, despite being the first person in the building that morning.

Perhaps the most visually striking apparition at Cherry Street Tavern is that of a woman in Victorian-era clothing. She's been seen sitting alone at a corner table, appearing to wait for someone who never arrives.

Patrons who have witnessed this ghostly lady describe her as appearing sad and lost, dressed in a long dark dress with her hair styled in an elaborate updo typical of the late 1800s. She seems oblivious to the modern bar around her, as if existing in a different time.

Some paranormal investigators believe she may be connected to the building's history before it became a tavern. Local historians note that the structure once served as a boarding house in the late 1800s, and legend speaks of a woman who died while waiting for her husband to return from the Civil War—a husband who never came home.

The basement of Cherry Street Tavern is notorious among staff members as the most actively haunted area of the building. Employees tasked with retrieving supplies from below report an overwhelming sense of being watched, sudden temperature drops, and the feeling of unseen hands touching their shoulders.

Some refuse to go down alone, and many report hearing voices—sometimes arguing, sometimes laughing—emanating from the basement when it should be empty. Footsteps on the basement stairs are frequently heard throughout the day and night, yet investigation reveals no one there.

One particularly disturbing account involves a staff member who went to the basement to get more beer. As he reached for a case, he heard a child's voice clearly say his name. He turned to find no one there, but the temperature had dropped so dramatically he could see his breath. He left the supplies and refuses to go to the basement alone to this day.

Local legend suggests the basement may have been used for illicit activities during Prohibition, possibly even as a speakeasy with a secret entrance. Some believe the spirits are former patrons or workers from that era, still trying to keep their illegal operation secret.

Beyond the apparitions, Cherry Street Tavern experiences regular poltergeist activity. Bar stools move on their own, sometimes found stacked in elaborate configurations when staff arrive to open. Pool balls roll across tables with no one touching them. The jukebox occasionally plays songs that no one selected, and lights flicker in patterns that seem too deliberate to be electrical issues.

One particularly active spirit seems to have a playful nature. Bartenders report having their tips mysteriously rearranged, with coins stacked into perfect towers or arranged in circular patterns. Name tags go missing, only to reappear days later in impossible locations—like inside a sealed beer cooler or tucked behind a picture frame on the wall.

Patrons have reported their drinks being moved while they step away briefly, credit cards sliding across the bar, and the sensation of someone sitting down in the empty seat next to them. While these experiences can be unsettling, most describe the presence as more mischievous than malevolent.

Historical records suggest that the original structure on this site was a boarding house in the 1870s, catering to travelers and workers in the growing city of Chattanooga. The building witnessed the city's transformation through the industrial revolution, surviving fires, floods, and economic hardships.

In the early 20th century, the building changed hands multiple times, serving as a dry goods store, a tailor shop, and during Prohibition, rumor has it, an underground speakeasy. The secret operations of that era may explain some of the paranormal activity in the basement.

Cherry Street Tavern as it's known today was established in the 1970s, becoming a fixture of the local nightlife scene and a gathering place for Chattanooga residents across generations.