Michelin star-chefs, intimate settings, conversations over courses, and transcendental house music filling the void — that's what each guest will experience when Monospace opens in the Southside.

Brought to you by the minds of creative director and DJ Christopher Knowles + Craig Richards, executive chef of Altanta-based Lyla Lila, this venture has been in the making since 2023.

"Our joy is in curating, we want you to think of Monospace as effectively breaking out of your comfort zone," Knowles said. "We want to curate really interesting and compelling experiences for you."

The venue is currently in Phase 1:

An online retail shop with records and house goods
Pop-up events that feature an intimate dinner followed by an after party with a DJ
The opening of an outdoor space.

The space will reside at the undeveloped side of Stove Works and be a build-out of shipping containers that will be transformed into a micro-kitchen + bar and a DJ booth. This area is projected to break ground at the end of this year.

The name Monospace encapsulates the feeling of one space for everyone, but that's not all. The venue's name was inspired by the typography font (where the letters are equally spaced for modular use) + a nod to mono versus stereo channel output.

Much like its name, we're breaking down the two concepts that are being merged in one.

Knowles said this modular concept is a cross-pollination of two experiences that connect people + build community. | Photo provided by Monospace

Culinary expression

Overseen by Richards, the pop-ups have featured out-of-town Michelin-star chefs, bringing a fresh taste to Chattanooga — think: dishes like pork osso buco, gnocchi with black garlic-leek cream, lavender shortbread crumbles + specialty cocktails.

Once the outdoor space is open, Richards will create a consistent menu with a sous-chef for the weekdays + guest chefs will takeover for the weekends. In the future, the hope is to bring on more of a residency program with chefs — from young, emerging talent to culinary experts found locally and nationally.

You won't find the typical quiet that comes in between courses during this food experience. | Photo provided by Monospace

Music as a community

Your dining experience will be steered by the music, being timed perfectly to help transition the courses, instead of acting as background music. Knowles said this mixture acts as added texture to enhance all senses.

By spotlighting different local and regional DJs, guests can expect anything from ambient noise music to sounds rooted in dance culture, paired with light visuals. While the dinners are more intimate, the after parties are late-night opportunities to unwind and connect with fellow music lovers — fully open to the public for $5 a ticket.

Pro tip: Knowles shared the dates of the next pop-up (Saturday, March 22 + Sunday, March 23) — follow along on Instagram to be the first to see the official announcement.

Knowles said Phase 2 is more of a 3-4 year journey where they will build a 300-person venue + a larger restaurant. The shipping containers would then act as Monospace's patio — essentially operating two kitchens and music spaces that offer different experiences at the same time.

Local artists, chefs, and anyone interested in supporting the venue through its opening can reach out via the contact page or through Instagram DMs. Bonus: Sign up for their newsletter.