Petunia’s Silver Jalapeño opens for lunch on Main

Petunia’s Silver Jalapeño has found a new home — parked permanently outside The Granfalloon event space at 400 E. Main St. in Chattanooga’s hip Southside neighborhood.

The eatery, which prepares fish tacos, burgers, sandwiches and other takeout food inside a 1971, 31-footlong silver Airstream International trailer, on Friday served its first lunch customers in almost two years.

Previously, Petunia’s Silver Jalapeño was in the bottom floor of Warehouse Row’s South building. But it closed

in November 2014 to make room for the thennew restaurant, Two Ten Jack. The eatery served meals from its Airstream until about four years ago on Signal Mountain Road, when Virginia Cofer closed it.

“I had this [Airstream] in storage,” said restaurateur Cofer, who runs her catering company, Virginia’s Gourmet by Design, out of the Granfalloon.

Since she’s at The Granfalloon, anyway, Cofer said it made sense to bring back Petunia’s Silver Jalapeño, which will be open from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Diners will purchase food from a take-out window, and Cofer plans to set up seating outside and add other touches, including flower boxes.

“I used to go to them when they were at Warehouse Row,” said Robert Posey, who bought fish tacos Friday afternoon at the Airstream’s take-out window from Justin Smith, Cofer’s partner in Petunia’s Silver Jalapeño and the catering business.

“No onions,” Cofer told Smith right after Posey ordered, remembering her customer’s preference from two years prior.

While Petunia’s Silver Jalapeño has moved around town, Cofer said it’s come to rest for good at the Granfalloon, which also houses the recently-opened Adelle’s Ice Cream and Creperie that serves breakfast and lunch.

The Airstream has permanent plumbing, electrical connections and now sits on blocks, not wheels.

“It won’t move,” Cofer said.

Contact Petunia’s Silver Jalapeño at 423-785-7578.

Contact staff writer Tim Omarzu at tomarzu@timesfreepress.com or www.facebook.com/ MeetsForBusiness or twitter.com/meetforbusiness or 423-757-6651.

STAFF PHOTO BY TIM OMARZU Virginia Cofer, owner of Petunia’s Silver Jalapeño, stands outside the eatery’s Airstream International trailer kitchen Friday afternoon, while Justin Smith works inside at the take-out window.