A zoning panel on Monday granted Chattanooga Closet Co. permission to begin a $450,000 renovation on its property at 1901 Broad St., which owners said they will use as a showroom and warehouse.
The company designs, builds and installs custom storage arrangements for $1,000 for an average job to $30,000 for a large job.
Owner Kim Campbell, who leases business space across the street, said she originally bought the other location in 2008 but had to postpone and scale back plans as a result of the subsequent recession.
Despite the hardship posed by economic turmoil, she’s determined to stay on Broad Street, where she’s been since 2003.
“Our business grew 30 percent every year after we moved here until 2009, when we had a 50 percent drop in business,” Campbell said, but added that now her profits are back up “a huge amount because we cut a lot of costs, so we’re where we need to be.”
The company, founded in 1998, will use Sterchi Construction to renovate the property, with Chris Sterchi serving as general contractor.
“We’re going to gut the whole thing and build out a showroom” that will measure 3,327 square feet, Sterchi said. He will also install a new roof, heat and air-conditioning system, electrical, plumbing and other infrastructure in the currently vacant building.
The Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Planning Commission approved the project for an urban commercial zone, provided that the applicant meets certain parking requirements.
Following approval from the City Council, construction could start in mid-October and be finished before Christmas, Campbell said.
“It’ll be a huge improvement” from the current location and for the vacant building, she added, “built out just the way we want it.”
Contact Ellis Smith at esmith@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6315. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/ellisthered