Last Wednesday, 20 minutes before the doors opened on the first market in Founders Hall at The Commons in Collegedale, the edge of a pop-up storm came over White Oak Mountain. Two hours later, after the ominous shower had turned into a pleasant fall afternoon, hundreds of residents of the Collegedale/Ooltewah area turned out to see a six-year dream come to fruition.
Among them was Chris Thomas, who heads the Chattanooga Market. Thomas remembers when the idea of a market built on the Chattanooga Market model first started being talked about in the eastern part of the county - and said last week's culmination exceeded the 6-year-old vision in a big way.
"It's amazing to see a small group of people take a small idea and turn it into something big like this," said Thomas, who wore two hats at the event. He is the executive director of Public Markets, a nonprofit organization that manages the producer-only market in Collegedale. Thomas is also a member of the Collegedale Tomorrow Foundation, which was the driving force behind the $10 million raised to build the new facilities located next to Collegedale City Hall.
"What happened here today is an indicator of how many people in this part of the county are looking for something to do," Thomas said, standing in the middle of the new 9,000-square-foot, enclosed facility. "This market will draw people within 15-20 minutes of Collegedale, and the area is growing."
More Info
Sunflower Stables Barn Sale & Market, an upscale, vintage-inspired market with more than 40 vendors, is hosting a market at The Commons at 10 a.m. Sept. 21-22. A $5 ticket is required. For more information, visit facebook.com/sunflowerstablesbarnsaleandmarket.
Shoppers peruse the 42 vendors set up inside Founders Hall.Ooltewah resident Lisa Norman enjoys the market atmosphere and is a veteran of many markets. She agrees with Thomas.
"This facility and the market are such a great addition to the community. The atmosphere was great, and I enjoyed running into several of my friends," she said, adding that she's looking forward to sitting around the built in, wood-burning fireplace that sits at the front of the event space.
A steady stream of 200 shoppers surveyed the diverse offerings from the 42 vendors set up, from fresh produce to toddler-size clothing for each SEC school. Shoppers also enjoyed live music and food in the entry pavilion leading into Founders Hall.
Produce vendor Ron Shaffer said he was busy from beginning to end of the three-hour market. He and his family run Red Clay Farm in Bradley County, where they produce certified organic produce. Shaffer was among the 12-13 vendors who took part in the weekly Collegedale Market for the past few months when it was held in the entry pavilion as the rest of the space was being finished.
"We're not in Kansas anymore," said Shaffer, who has lived in the Ooltewah-Collegedale area for decades. "This has been four or five times the amount of people we see in one week ... probably the last month."
Thomas said the development of the property is an excellent example of a public-private partnership.
"When the idea for this hall started, it was a $300,000 project," he said. "Then it grew to 2 million (dollars). At that point, (Collegedale) City Manager Ted Rogers said we should take the last step and put the glass roll-up doors around three sides, and that was a tremendous addition that really makes this work."
Collegedale, which is the fastest-growing city in Tennessee, has been a partner in the development of The Commons from the beginning. Mayor Katie Lamb and Rogers have worked closely with the foundation board as the development, fundraising and construction took place.
The $7 million first phase of the project included buying the land, preparing the full site, and building the entry pavilion, two restroom facilities and parking. Founders Hall and the maintenance facility were a $2.8 million project.
With the unanimous support of the Collegedale Commission, the city has invested $2 million in The Commons, with $8 million raised from the private sector. Lamb and Rogers are now working with the foundation on the next phase, which will be to convert 11 acres next to The Commons into a public park like Renaissance Park in downtown Chattanooga.
"This a dream come true," Lamb said.
The Collegedale Market will run from 4-7 p.m. each Wednesday through the fall and organizers will soon decide the 2019 weekday schedule. A market will begin on Sunday in January 2019 and run all year.
Email Davis Lundy at news@timesfreepress.com.