Tennessee’s First Shopping Center to be redeveloped in Chattanooga

Urban Story Ventures has big plans for restoring this East Ridge shopping center.

Aerial shot of East Ridge Shopping Center where you can see some cars in the parking lot and the sign that says "Tennessee's First Shopping Center"

Read along to see how this shopping center could be revitalized.

Local real estate agency Urban Story Ventures has some big box plans in store for the East Ridge center known as “Tennessee’s First Shopping Center,” in a recent acquisition.

To give you all a quick breakdown of what’s in store, let’s get into the logistics:

  • The shopping center sits on 13 acres + spans 160,000 sqft.
  • Current vacant spaces range from 38,000 sqft to 2,500 sqft, like where a former Food City resided.
  • A portion of units remain occupied — think: Little Caesars, a Chinese eatery + a Dollar Plus Store.
  • The redevelopment would include a combination of renovated suites + new construction — creating a mixed-use hub.

Working in partnership with the City of East Ridge, the site plan also seeks to convert Old Ringgold Road into a promenade that will feature shops, restaurants, and more for residents to enjoy.

Currently, Urban Story is identifying infrastructure needs with construction partners + recruiting a mix of local, regional, and national retailers and businesses to fill the space once the project is complete.

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