Over the past few months, we have heard so many grand announcements on various developments – from TopGolf and the Red Wolves stadium to a new roller skate lounge and the National Medal of Honor Heritage Center — coming to Scenic City. In 2020, Chattanooga’s business + economic development landscape will only continue to grow.
In case you skimmed over some of the groundbreaking news, here’s a quick re-cap.
(Psst...This list isn’t meant to be comprehensive. If there is a construction project you like to share with us, email hello@noogatoday.com. We love hearing about new developments + businesses.)
- Antidote Craft Bar, location TBA
Chattanoogan Julie Laird said she’s working on a concept called Antidote Craft Bar – which she hopes to open in 2020. She’s still looking for investors in the craft beverages, craft food + crafts biz. “It’s going to be an awesome new place for adults to hang out and since creativity and crafting are an antidote for stress, there will be some good stress relief going on,” Laird said. - Indigo Hotel
Crews are actively working to revamp the West 6th Street building — which used to be apartments — and transform it into Hotel Indigo. The boutique hotel will have 90 rooms and suites. It also features meeting rooms for as many as 100 guests, a 24-hour fitness center + full-service restaurant and bar lounge. You can book now for arrivals on or after April 3, 2020.
- Highway 27 construction
Maybe you thought this one would never end... Road work on U.S. 27 from I-24 to the Olgiati Bridge has been going on for about four years, and we’re currently in the final phase – with completion expected by fall 2020. The goal of the project is to rework U.S. 27 to create a straighter path with new traffic lanes. The changes affect a part of the road that was built in the 1950s + ‘60s. - Moonlight Roller Lounge, location TBA
Adult roller skating rink + lounge? Yes, please. Moonlight Roller Lounge was originally planned for Ooltewah’s Summit Station, but owner Adrienne Cooper is now looking for a new location in some of Chattanooga’s Opportunity Zones. In the meantime, on Jan. 1 Cooper is opening Moonlight x Mobile – a portable rental skate counter. She’ll use the remodeled trailer to host pop-up events + book private parties while the bigger facility is in the works.
- Champy’s in East Ridge, 6515 Ringgold Road
Beloved chicken + beer shack Champy’s is expanding into East Ridge, not far from the new Red Wolves development. More about that in a minute. The new 6515 Ringgold Road location is expected to seat up to 250 customers. It’ll also employ about 80 people and is set to open in March 2020. - National Medal of Honor Heritage Museum, 2 W. Aquarium Way, Suite 104
The new $6-million facility on Aquarium Way will honor 3,522 recipients of the country’s highest award for individual valor in the military. There will be a special focus on the 32 Tennesseans who received the Medal of Honor. The center is scheduled for a February 2020 opening. - Nic & Norman’s, 1400 Market St.
The last empty space in the Chattanooga Choo Choo will soon be occupied by Nic + Norman’s, a restaurant created by Greg Nicotero and Norman Reedus of The Walking Dead. It will open in the spring of 2020. The duo already has one restaurant in Senoia, Georgia, and were looking for a unique, historical space to bring a second location. From Philly cheesesteak fries, fried pickles, veggie or bison burgers + pizza — there’s a little something for everyone on the menu. - Nippon Paint, 1320 Appling St.
East Chattanooga is getting a $60-million investment + 150 jobs thanks to Nippon Paint, a Japanese-based painting + coating manufacturer with operations in 16 countries, who will bring a state-of-the-art plant to the former Harriet Tubman housing project. Construction is expected to begin in January 2020 on the plant, which will produce automotive E-Coat and topcoat. This development is a welcome change for the neighborhood, in part, because it’s been more than 100 years since the area had a new major economic development deal. Red Wolves, southwest corner of the I-75 and I-24 intersection
The new soccer team is ready to play in the new East Ridge stadium, so the plan is to have it complete by late March 2020. The 5,500-seat stadium will include an executive club, youth area + beer garden that can accommodate hundreds of fans. Along with the stadium, developers are planning for restaurants, apartments, condos a+hotels over the next 3-5 years.- TopGolf, 500 Camp Jordan Road
The multi-story, interactive driving range is expected to open in East Ridge, near Bass Pro Shops, in summer 2020. In addition to hitting high-tech, micro-chipped balls, customers will also be able to eat, drink, watch big-screen TVs, + rent out space for private events.
