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Meet Dr. Charles and Mary Portera of Bluff View Art District

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Charles and Mary Portera.

Dr. Charles and Mary, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
The historic neighborhood known as Bluff View was home to many of Chattanooga’s finest including politicians, businessmen, doctors, lawyers and bankers who laid the foundation for Chattanooga in the early 1900s.

On visits to the Hunter Museum of American Art and the Houston Museum of Decorative Arts with our family in the 1970’s and 1980’s, we were drawn to the beautiful bluff front location and diverse architectural building styles in the neighborhood, which evoked a European feel. This atmosphere coupled with a deep respect for the quality craftsmanship of past generations’ contractors moved us to purchase the buildings as they became available and restore them to their original glory.

In 1982, a group of forward-thinking citizens of Chattanooga commissioned Vision 2000, making recommendations as to how the waterfront and downtown areas should be redeveloped. Geared for progress, businesses along the river started to feel a sense of revitalization and were further energized by the groundbreaking of the now-famous Tennessee Aquarium, which opened in 1992. Fueled by the same entrepreneurial spirit as the original residents of Bluff View, we were committed to participating in the revitalization of the downtown area at the inception of Chattanooga’s renaissance.

Our love of the visual, culinary and horticultural arts coupled with the desire to create something of cultural value to give back to our community which had given so much to our family led us to the development of Chattanooga’s first art district, Bluff View Art District. The District began in 1992 with the opening of River Gallery which represents local, regional and national artists with all work being for sale.

Today, Bluff View Art District is still owned and operated by our family and our truly dedicated employees who have been instrumental in keeping the District’s collection of entities including award-winning restaurants, a coffee house, a bed & breakfast, an art gallery, bakery, chocolate and pastry kitchens, wholesale coffee roaster and serene gardens alive for over 25 years.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
We purchased the buildings that house Bluff View Art District’s business entities over a 10-12 year period. Because Bluff View Art District is a unique concept and we had no “master plan” or “ultimate vision”, the challenge early on was determining what business concepts would thrive both jointly and independently of each other.

The biggest struggle now has been keeping up with the public’s demand for our handmade, artisan culinary products which cover a multitude of areas: coffee, pasta, bread, pastries and chocolate.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Bluff View Art District – what should we know?
Bluff View Art District is a beautiful destination in downtown Chattanooga that offers an all-inclusive experience for our customers. Tucked neatly on top of tall stone cliffs and with the Tennessee River as its backdrop, guests can eat, celebrate, shop, explore and stay in this quiet downtown haven. Our offerings include:

Bluff View Inn – Sixteen elegant inn rooms in three lovely, restored homes provide modern conveniences and ultimate luxury in a comfortable setting that showcases heirloom antiques, original artwork and bluff-top views of the Tennessee River. Room rates include a gourmet breakfast, non-alcoholic beverages and early morning coffee service. Complimentary parking and wireless internet access are also available.

Back Inn Café – Noted for its stunning views of the Tennessee River, Back Inn Café offers its patrons globally inspired cuisine infused with local flavors. Menu items change seasonally to highlight local herbs, produce and meats while remaining true to the unique flavor profiles produced by our team of honored chefs. Dining rooms with panoramic windows and patio seating overlook the bluffs cascading down to the Tennessee River, offering the perfect backdrop for an unforgettable dining experience.

Rembrandt’s Coffee House – Our European style café offers a wide assortment of house-roasted coffees from Rembrandt’s Roasting Company, artisan breads from Bluff View Bakery, hand-dipped chocolates and hand-made pastries. If you are looking for a meal, Rembrandt’s also offers a full menu of soups, salads and sandwiches. Rembrandt’s has won the Chattanooga Times Free Press Best of the Best Award for Best Local Coffee Shop for ten years in a row!

Tony’s Pasta Shop & Trattoria – The Carriage House of Bluff View Inn’s historic T.C. Thompson House (a Victorian Mansion) is home to Tony’s Pasta Shop, featuring classic Italian cuisine in a casual atmosphere. Guests can enjoy our famous complimentary table bread baked fresh daily at Bluff View Bakery and try our “Create Your Own Pasta” menu featuring hand-cut pastas and fresh sauces made with herbs and tomatoes from our very own gardens, or choose from other traditional Italian dishes such as Chicken Parmesan, Meat Lasagna or Tony’s meatballs – which are a traditional Sicilian recipe handed down by our owner’s grandmother! Seating is available outdoors on the deck or the patio, or inside in the loft or the sunroom. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Tony’s has won the Chattanooga Times Free Press Best of the Best Award for Best Italian Restaurant for two years in a row!

Bluff View Bakery – One of the few remaining artisan bakeries in Downtown Chattanooga, Bluff View Bakery serves our own restaurants, as well as other cafes, restaurants, businesses and farmers’ markets in the Chattanooga area. Specializing in rustic table breads, sandwich breads and rolls, our breads are made with only the finest ingredients and have no artificial fillers or preservatives. Every loaf is hand-shaped according to traditional European techniques and baked each morning.

Rembrandt’s Roasting Company – The district’s coffee roasting facility for it’s coffee house, inn, and restaurants uses the highest quality beans grown in regions that take pride in cultivating organic, sustainable products. Our roasting process begins by profiling each bean varietal to ensure the beans will achieve their fullest flavor potential. Our dedicated roaster oversee each step from beginning to end, so that you can “drink easy” knowing every sip will be as good as the first!

Renaissance Commons – Home to our Bluff View Events department, Renaissance Commons hosts both corporate and special events. With over ten distinctive settings and diverse culinary options, a private event on the bluff makes for a truly memorable gathering.

River Gallery – Free and open to the public daily, River Gallery represents local, regional, and national artists with all work being for sale. Guests will find walls and pedestals displaying fine art and craft. Paintings, sculptures, ceramics, wood, jewelry, and even more media in abstract, conceptual, realistic, and representational forms are found throughout several rooms in an early 1900s former home. The gallery actively seeks and acquires artists’ work that showcases new techniques in order to provide diversity in the gallery’s collection.

River Gallery Sculpture Garden – Included in Smithsonian’s Archives of American Gardens, guests are invited to enjoy this 2 acre, finely manicured outdoor exhibit space overlooking the beautiful Tennessee River. Open daily until dusk year around, the garden is free to the public. Regionally, nationally, and internationally recognized sculptors are represented in the garden’s impressive private collection, placing our garden in the International Sculpture Parks and Gardens directory. Printed guides can be obtained at the sculpture garden entrance for self-guided tours.

As a company offering a variety of unique products and experiences, we are most proud when our guests write letters, leave reviews or tell us how they have connected or been impacted in their own unique way to some aspect of the District: having a relaxing stay at our Inn, observing a work of art that might have moved them, enjoying a bowl of our house-made pasta or their fine dining experience, getting engaged on the overlook or celebrating their special wedding day, smelling fresh coffee being roasted and fresh breads and pastries being baked, observing the chocolatier honing his craft or watching their child enjoying his creations, or just sitting on a bench in the Sculpture Garden and being moved by the beauty of art against the natural picturesque landscape… These are just a few of the comments that have resonated with us. Comments like these and many others from guests throughout the years propel us and our coworkers to continue striving for excellence in what we do everyday.

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
We are dedicated to excellence in all that we do.

Pricing:

  • Tuesdays at Tony’s Pasta Shop – Wine Specials $5 glass and $20 bottle from Tony’s all Italian wine list
  • Wednesday’s at Back Inn Café – Half Price Select Wines from our carefully curated wine list
  • Bluff View Inn offers competitive overnight rates and special packages for guests staying at the inn.

Contact Info:

Suggest a story: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.

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