Biz Briefs: Work begins on Bijou site

Friday, January 1, 1904

photo Conceptual rendering of The Block, the retail space/climbing gym that is proposed to take over the Bijou Theatre building.

Work begins on Bijou site

Workers have started redoing the former Bijou movie theater on downtown's riverfront which will hold climbing and outdoors businesses this summer.

The block at Third and Broad streets will focus on one of the fastest growing sports nationally as it woos climbers from across the country to the central city. A 55-foot-high climbing wall attached to the outside of the six-level building's parking garage will be the most visual element of the $4 million redevelopment, they said. Also, local outdoors retailer Rock/Creek Outfitters will open a new 3,800-square-foot store at the site.


Small businesses picked as finalists

Ten finalists for Small Business of the Year awards were named Wednesday by the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce.

The finalists among firms with one to 20 employees are CommunicationVIP, Headlight Renew Doctor and Yogi's Primo Promo. The finalists in the category for 21 to 50 employees are Hullco Exteriors, March Adams & Associates Inc. and Woople LLC. Among firms with 51 to 200 employees, the finalists include Chattanooga Allergy Clinic, Mike Collins & Associates, Inc. and SupportSeven.

The awards will be presented March 13 during the Small Business Awards luncheon at the Chattanooga Convention Center.


VW Credit adds 150 jobs in Illinois

Illinois-based VW Credit Inc. on Wednesday marked the opening of a 30,000-square-foot expansion of its Libertyville facility.

The $10 million expansion will provide space for 150 additional jobs that VCI expects to create through 2018. The Libertyville, Ill., facility currently employs nearly 530 employees.

"VCI's expansion, coupled with increased U.S. sales among all our brands in 2012, aligns with Volkswagen's ambitious growth strategy," said Volkswagen of America Executive Vice President and Chief Product and Marketing Officer Tim Mahoney.