If you have ever thought to yourself, “Gosh, I really wish there was a Publix at the foot of the mountain. That would be so cool and handy. Driving all the way to North Shore is for suckers!” then you are not alone. In fact, your dreams are coming true.
Just recently, a sign near the old Mount Vernon restaurant (which closed in 2017) on South Broad Street has appeared that reads, “Coming Soon: Publix. Where Shopping is a Pleasure.” In the near future (a construction date is not known yet), the old Mount Vernon restaurant, as well as the old Pizza Hut building, will be torn down and replaced with a swanky new grocery store.
The decision was not an easy one and has been a long time in the making. Last November, the city's Board of Zoning Appeals refused the developer's plan for the new Publix by a 5-4 vote. Along with these hesitations, Chattanooga citizens themselves voiced concerns about the new plan. As this new store is meant to directly serve those in Alton Park, Lookout Valley, Lookout Mountain, and St. Elmo, concerns from these residents made it to the ears of board members and councilmen, such as Councilman Erskine Oglesby, who has a hand in the planning for this new addition to the city. He received word from some residents who had issues with where exactly the store would be placed, as well as concerns about access to the store and walkability along South Broad, and the amount of space that would be taken up along the road just for a Publix.
In light of the voiced concerns and the denial of the proposed plan, last December, the panel voted to re-hear the case, and changes to the development as a whole where made in order to better accommodate the community that would be served by Publix.
“We appreciate the good faith, effort, and patience from the developer to build a high-quality store that fits within the fabric of the community plan,” said Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke, according to WCRB. “This new design includes space for amenities, like small-scale retail, but also an emphasis on pedestrian safety with accessibility and connecting our city with the completion of the Tennessee Riverwalk.”
After such changes to the plan and development for Publix, this past May, city leaders voted 6-0 to implement the new plan, after 6 months of back and forth debate. Oglesby says that the area desperately needs another grocery option, as Food City serves a single district of 20,000 people. Along with providing more options, Publix will provide more than 100 jobs, as well as utilizing vacant space. The hope is that with the new addition of the grocery store, small businesses will also be attracted to the space and set up shop along South Broad to support the area itself.
Publix not exciting enough for you? What about TopGolf, or even Dave & Busters? That’s right, you can look forward to both of those establishments popping up sometime in the near future in the Chattanooga area. Topgolf is coming to East Ridge, specifically 500 Camp Jordan Parkway, right next to the Bass Pro Shop. Dave & Busters construction is underway at Hamilton Mall, taking the location of the old Sears. While the opening date of Publix and Topgolf are still uncertain, Dave & Busters is planning to open its doors in the spring or summer of 2020.