Jason Bowers now has five culinary establishments under his belt—each one telling a piece of his unique story.
The art of entertaining is a delicate balance of familiarity and creativity. It’s about more than just food and drinks—it’s about crafting an atmosphere where guests feel at ease, engaged, and appreciated. At its best, entertaining fosters connection and transforms the ordinary into a shared experience of joy and camaraderie. Jason Bowers seems to have mastered this.
In 1992, Jason Bowers’ parents embarked on a journey that would forever change the course of their family’s future—answering the call of missionary work. Bowers, his parents, and three brothers traveled across the Southeast, raising funds for their trip. “I spent the good part of my early childhood in a minivan,” Bowers says. “It was a lot of fun.”
Worlds away from his West Virginia home, Bowers spent his kindergarten year in Costa Rica, attending language school alongside other families preparing to serve in Spanish-speaking countries. The family then moved to Honduras, settling in the rural mountain village of Las Lagunas. There, his mother taught school, his father planted a church, and Bowers and his brothers attended a bilingual school. “It was a pretty wild childhood,” Bowers recalls, laughing. “It was a hugely impactful time in my life, and I’ve always had a heart for Latino people because of it.”
Bowers recalls visiting the open markets of Honduras to pick up fresh produce for the week. The vibrant diversity of tropical fruits and vegetables soon became his new normal. “My comfort foods are things like homemade corn tortillas, refried black beans, and fresh sour cream,” he says. “I bought a tortilla press before I bought a crock pot.” Little did he know that these early experiences with food would lay the foundation for how he would later approach his career serving others.
In 2005, Bowers landed in Chattanooga for college, but working amidst the hustle of the local food and beverage scene was where he truly found his place. After graduating with a teaching degree, it didn’t take long for him to realize that education wasn’t where he belonged. “The kids were great. They were the best part,” he says. “I just didn’t feel like I had the drive to do what was needed to be a great teacher.”
By 2014, Bowers had decided not to return to the classroom — he needed more room to be creative. The food and beverage industry was all he knew, and soon, the stars of entrepreneurship were about to align. That same year, a bar he had frequented in college went up for sale. Three months later, Bowers opened The Bitter Alibi in the basement of a three-story building in downtown Chattanooga. Bowers was back in the hustle that had captured his heart just a few years prior. “We started small,” he says. “We only had draft and can beer, a crock pot, and a panini press. I called all of my friends and said, ‘Come hang out at my bar.’”
Over the next year, Bowers worked six days a week—starting his day at 11:00 a.m. with shopping for supplies, inventory, marketing, and prepping for the night. When the bar opened at 4 p.m., he was usually behind it, tending the bar until it closed. “It was a lot, but this was the perfect time for us to do this,” he says. His girlfriend at the time (now his wife) had just moved to Nashville to pursue her master’s degree in nursing. “We were both incredibly busy. It seemed like the right time to dive into this second career.”
That first year was also a time of growth. Bowers rented the second story of the building and began constructing a legitimate kitchen where he could start serving some of the authentic Latin American recipes from his youth.
Today, The Bitter Alibi occupies all three stories of its original space. It offers craft cocktails, over 60 beers, and an elevated menu of traditional bar foods with Central American and Asian influences.
Eighteen months after opening The Bitter Alibi, Bowers was ready for more. Looking to create a place to put “food first,” he launched his next venture in 2016—The Daily Ration, a breakfast and brunch spot, as well as a coffee shop, in the vibrant Northshore neighborhood of Chattanooga.
The Daily Ration quickly became a local favorite, known for its elevated breakfast options infused with Bowers’ signature Latin American flavors. The restaurant also featured a full bar with brunch-inspired cocktails. It boasted one of Chattanooga’s best patios, making it a go-to destination for food and atmosphere. With two successful spaces under his belt, Bowers spent the next couple of years fine-tuning his restaurants—focusing on streamlining operations, improving the guest experience, and refining his menu offerings. Then came the pandemic.
“It was a rough time for everyone, but some good came out of it,” he says. “It was a good reset for the company, and those that stuck around were excited for the future and wanted to see it grow.” Despite the challenges, the pause allowed Bowers to reflect, adapt, and set the stage for even greater things. In 2022, Bowers and his team opened Clever Ale House in an old brewery in Red Bank, a small enclave city surrounded by Chattanooga. Clever Ale House is a neighborhood restaurant and bar known for its “atypical” bar foods. The menu features unique items like a cheesesteak sandwich with kimchi slaw, pimiento cheese with honey gochujang sauce, chicken tenders with Asian plum BBQ sauce, and even Asian noodle bowls.
The bar menu offers classic cocktails, sipping bourbons, and diverse beers. In addition, Clever Ale House boasts an in-house creamery and a classic gaming arcade, adding an extra layer of fun to the experience. Combining inventive food, an extensive drink menu and engaging entertainment quickly made Clever Ale House a favorite local haunt.
A year later, fate took Bowers up the mountain—Signal Mountain, to be exact. Civil Provisions and Bar opened in 2023 with a rotating menu of American and Mediterranean fare, complemented by a curated wine list and craft cocktails. The space blends modern and classic sensibilities, creating a unique and inviting atmosphere that feels both contemporary and timeless. In May of 2024, Bowers, along with his friend Clark Holt—who had been his general manager at Civil Provisions—opened 50/50, a wine and martini bar in the historic Chattanooga Choo Choo. “Clark was really knowledgeable about wine and martinis,” Bowers says. “He opened my eyes to what good wine and well-made martinis are.”
50/50 has a traditional feel, evoking the charm and elegance of the 1920s and 1930s. It is classically furnished with Chesterfield couches, Persian rugs, and moody lighting. To complement the classic drink menu, 50/50 serves local cheese boards, butter boards, olive boards, and decadent desserts, offering a refined experience in an intimate, sophisticated setting.
Jason Bowers approaches the opportunity to serve the people of Chattanooga with respect and care. Reflecting on all that has transpired over the past decade, he offers some insight into what motivates him to keep pushing forward.
“It’s not an easy business,” Bowers says. “It’s a lot of work—there’s a lot of little details. There is always something to do. But I love the relationships forged when a group of people get together to create something. Seeing people come together over a drink or share with me the experiences they’ve had in our restaurants reminds me why I do what I do. These places are important to the community.”
There have been no official announcements from Jason Bowers regarding any new concepts coming to Chattanooga, but knowing him, it’s likely that a dozen ideas are already running around in his head, each looking for a way to showcase his unique brand of Southern hospitality.
Chattanooga Travel Inspiration Magazine
A version of this story was previously published in the 2025 edition of our Travel Inspiration Magazine.
