Denis Pellerin

Warehouse Row officials expect to start a flurry of work at the retail-office complex as its owner takes the next steps to revive the downtown Chattanooga landmark.

“We’ll see evidence of construction in the next two weeks,” said Denis Pellerin of Pellerin & Salomon, an Atlanta company overseeing the work. He said the latest upgrades will cost about $650,000.

Meanwhile, a local restaurateur plans to open a Blue Coast Burrito eatery at the food court.

Richard Martin, who owns the existing Blue Coast unit off Highway 153 in Hixson, said the second restaurant will open later this summer.

“We think based on plans for Warehouse Row’s future and the revitalization of that area, it’s a good spot to be in,” Mr. Martin said.

To help access the food court, Mr. Pellerin said workers are planning to create a better entrance from Market Street.

“It will create a new ramp entrance,” Mr. Pellerin said. Eventually, the existing breezeway could be made accessible to vehicles, he said.

Other improvements include turning elevators around on the south end of the complex to create a better retail environment on that side, Mr. Pellerin said. Also, a new roof sign is slated to go up, he said.

Mr. Pellerin said workers recently completed refurbishing areas on the top floors on the south end of the Market and Houston streets center. New paint, carpet, wall coverings and restroom work were done, he said.

Mr. Pellerin said workers are finishing a revamp to the food court area that should spruce up a key part of the complex.

The remake of Warehouse Row started earlier this year could reach over $30 million, making it one of the biggest makeovers in Chattanooga’s central business district in years if it unfolds as planned by Atlanta real estate company Jamestown LLC, officials have said.

Mr. Pellerin said officials continue to look at a possible hotel for the site’s north end.