Chattanooga-area Business Openings and Closings in February 2024

A Fresh Look at the Changing Business Landscape

The business landscape of the Chattanooga area saw significant shifts in February 2024, with a host of new openings and some noteworthy closures.

New Additions to the Business World

Adding a new capstone to the Chattanooga hospitality scene, the McLemore Resort hotel opened its doors on Lookout Mountain in late February. With two full-service restaurants, a café, a spa, 20,000 square feet of event space, and six meeting rooms, it’s set to redefine Chattanooga’s luxury hotel experience.

In addition to the McLemore Resort, the retail grocery sector welcomed a new player with the opening of Food City’s 49,000 square foot superstore in Kimball, Tennessee, effectively expanding the availability of quality groceries and household wares in the region.

Notable Closures

The Chattanooga area said farewell to some well-known establishments. The list of closures includes the Long Horn restaurant, a beloved entity for 65 years on Chattanooga’s North Shore; Art Creations, a framing and art supply business operating for over half a century; Slim & Husky’s pizzaria’s downtown location on M.L. King Boulevard; Chattanooga Cookie Co. in North Chattanooga; and Walgreens’ 15-year old drug store at 2104 McCallie Ave.

Business Expansions and Future Developments

While February saw a few businesses close, others expanded their reach. U-Haul purchased the former Greif Chattanooga packaging plant at 1721 Central Ave, converting it into a warehouse for its fast-growing portable storage container business.

Freshly announced developments include the approval of a new $115 million stadium for the Chattanooga Lookouts, after an agreement was passed to plug a funding gap. City and Hamilton County leaders also gave thumbs up to a $79 million apartment project, promising to replace public housing for College Hill Courts residents and offer a mix of low-to moderate-income and market-rate apartments.

The former Chatter Box at 6801 Shallowford Road is undergoing a transformation into a shaved ice dessert outlet called Pelican’s SnoBalls, adding to the list of outlets already established in East Ridge and Cleveland. A proposed $15 million Food City supermarket off Lee Highway also received zoning approval from a planning panel.

In conclusion, February 2024 proved to be quite a significant month for Chattanooga’s business sector, marked with openings, closures