Authored By Chloé Morrison

Three local entrepreneurs are working together on a St. Elmo venture that will mean new culinary treats for area residents and visitors. Plus Coffee co-founder Matt Park, Mama Crunk Pies owner Christine Nguyen and local chef Brendan Patrick, who recently launched a passion project Belle Chocolates, are teaming up to create Common General. It will be next to Plus Coffee's St. Elmo location at 3804 St.Elmo Ave. "We were approached with the opportunity to take over the space next door to us...and we've grown to the point where we needed extra space but we didn't need double the space," Park said. Park had been selling Nguyen's products and knew that Patrick was starting a new chocolate company and when he reached out to them, he found out they could benefit from sharing the space. "Because we all knew each other and our product is very similar, it just made sense to share the space," he said. Customers will be able to get pies, coffee and chocolate at the new eatery. Nguyen will have vegan pies and other weekly specials of savory and sweet options. Customers can take them to go or eat them in Common General, which gets its name from the idea of an old general store that sells handmade, regional goods, Park said. There will also be a retail section that adds to the old general store vibe. "It's all really high-quality stuff, which is amazing," Park said. There will be large common tables where 10 to 12 people can sit, he also said. Some plans are still being finalized and the entrepreneurs are aiming to open sometime next month. For Nguyen, the partnership is an opportunity to branch out with a storefront without the extensive costs of opening her own brick and mortar location, she said. One of her limitations has been getting products to people. So far, she's been selling them to other businesses. Now people will be able to come to Common General and try her creations. "That's kind of a really great step forward for our business," she said. Patrick, who was raised in Central Florida and has been an industry professional for about 15 years, is currently the Executive Sous Chef at Main Street Meats. At the new space, he will offer bars of chocolate in small batches. He'll have 70 and 80 percent dark varieties, truffles and bonbons with peanut butter, bourbon ganache, blueberries, toasted almonds and sea salt caramel. "Being able to share my deep love for food with the community through chocolate is a dream and I am incredibly excited for Chattanooga to taste what I have to offer," he said via email. Updated at 8:37 a.m. Aug. 15 to add more information.