A slate of new downtown retailers are opening in a sliver of once empty storefronts on Chestnut Street.
The businesses are part of River City Company’s Project: PopUp, a retail incubator program in partnership with Berry & Hunt, managers of the CitiPark retail strip at 800 Chestnut St., intended to animate the dormant storefronts and create a cluster of retail activity.
Celebrating a grand opening from 4 to 9 p.m. during a block party on Friday, Sept. 21, are:
• Go Bagel, a quick stop for breakfast, a leisurely lunch or a mid-day break, offering bagels, pastries, espresso, soup and salad. • Iron Labs, an interactive gaming experience that allows gamers to become immersed through a unique environment, extreme hardware and an “unmatched” gaming experience.
• Sewn to the Sky, a gift and textiles shop featuring an eclectic mix of hand-made goods by local and regional artists and craftspersons with a selection of modern designer fabrics and vintage décor.
• O.C. Buckels & Co., which offers a selection of finely crafted goods from independent designers across the country, and a unique post-consumer art and craft supply market with pay-as-you-wish pricing and a MakerSpace with equipment not often found in the casual craft room. O.C. Buckels & Co. is also home to Chatty Crafty, Chattanooga’s first handmade and vintage market.
• Tasty Daylight Donuts, a bakery creating custom donuts fresh daily.
“Studies show that city streets are activated by lively retail. This is the very reason retail recruitment is a major focus area for River City Company,” Kim White, president and CEO of River City Company, said. “Retail is a critical component of a healthy and vibrant downtown and contributes significantly to economic development.”
For more information, visit facebook.com/projectpopup.