East Ridge will soon be home to a Twin Peaks restaurant.
Construction is scheduled to begin this week at the Jordan Crossing development near Camp Jordan on the newest sports-themed restaurant known as Twin Peaks, a sports bar built with a lodge decor that features wall-to-wall sporting events displayed on multiple TV screens.
The Atlanta-based franchise developer for Twin Peaks - La Cima Restaurants LLC - plans to open the 350-seat restaurant and sports bar in January along Camp Jordan Road near Bass Pro Shops and Topgolf.
"We have always loved the growth and outlook of Chattanooga and have been searching for the right site for a while," James Porcello, vice president of operations and a partner in La Cima Restaurants, said in an emailed statement about the new East Ridge location.
Porcello said the 10,700-square-foot lodge should open with about 125 employees and will be the 16th Twin Peaks location for his company.
The new restaurant will be the third Twin Peaks in Tennessee and among more than 90 "lodges" that the Texas-based restaurant or its franchisees have opened since it began in 2005. One of the nation's hottest sports-themed restaurant chains, Twin Peaks is billed as the "ultimate sports lodge" and "man cave."
The company said it features made-from-scratch food and a variety of beers and drinks.
Jordan Crossing
The 50-acre development on Exit 1 in East Ridge features restaurants, entertainment, shops and a hotel at the entrance to Camp Jordan.— Bass Pro Shops opened in 2016.— Hampton Inn hotel opened in 2018.— Topgolf opened in 2020.— Restaurants opened include Chick Fil A, Jonathan’s Grille, Buddy’s BBQ, Dos Bros Fresh Mexican, Dairy Queen, Starbucks and next month Pizza Bros. Twin Peaks is scheduled to open in January.
Restaurants are usually decorated in the theme of a wilderness lodge and serve a mix of American, Southwest and Southern cuisines, as well as alcohol. The chain's slogan is "Eats. Drinks. Scenic Views."
A Twin Peaks opened in Brentwood, Tennessee, a decade ago and the chain expanded to Knoxville about six years ago. Twin Peaks, which was acquired last year by Fat Brands for $300 million, is now aggressively expanding around the U.S. and Mexico.
"We look forward to building upon their strong development pipeline to deliver the iconic Twin Peaks experience to even more guests across the globe," Fat Brands CEO Andy Wiederhorn said in a statement after buying the chain.
The restaurant theme is similar to that of Hooters, which operates a local restaurant on Brainerd Road. Similar chains include Redneck Heaven, Tilted Kilt Pub & Eatery, Bombshells, Bone Daddy's, Ojos Locos, Chula's, Bikinis Sports Bar & Grill, Big Racks, Show-Me's, Mugs & Jugs and WingHouse Bar & Grill.
Twin Peaks is the latest addition in the growing Jordan Crossing development in East Ridge that is anchored by the Bass Pro Shops that opened in 2016. With the opening this week of Pizza Bros, the 50-acre development already includes a half dozen restaurants serving a variety of tastes.
"This will probably be our last full-service restaurant, and we intend to make some other major announcements this summer," said John Healy, a partner in Wolftever Development LLC, which developed Jordan Crossing. "We just think with the traffic we have to this area and the success that our existing tenants are having, this is a great addition. We have only 6 acres left, and when built out, Jordan Crossing will end up eclipsing $100 million of investment."
Healy said the prime location along Interstate 75 and the entrance to Tennessee attracts local residents from throughout the Chattanooga area as well as many of the millions of motorists who travel each year along one of the busiest north-south interstate corridors.
"It's been successful for the same reason that it attracted the most hotel rooms of any I-75 exit 40 years ago," Healy said. "This a great location and is easy to get around anywhere in Chattanooga."
Contact Dave Flessner at dflessner@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6340. Follow him on Twitter @dflessner1.