Couples attend a class at Mia CucinaMia Cucina, a high-end cooking supply store on Chattanooga's North Shore, has announced that it will close Monday.
"I just hate to see it close, there's nothing else like it in Chattanooga," said North Chattanooga resident Sandy Nelson on Friday afternoon as she looked over the store's merchandise and fixtures that are 30 percent off for the going-out-of-business sale.
Store owner Marcy Kelch declined to comment Friday, other than to say that a buyer still might step forward.
Longtime customers expressed dismay that Mia Cucina, which planned to offer its last cooking class Friday night, was closing.
"I hate it," said Signal Mountain resident Jed Cooper, who was in the store Friday with his wife, Coughlin. "Whenever we need something, we'll come here and get it."
Signal Mountain resident Joel Ledbetter doesn't plan to buy his cookware in a big-box store once Mia Cucina is gone.
"I hate that they're closing," Ledbetter said. "I like small specialty stores. That's what's neat about the North Shore."
Mia Cucina moved to its current 3,900-square-foot leased space at the corner of Frazier Avenue and Tremont Street in November 2011. Its neighbors in the building, The Terrace at Frazier, include Massage Envy and Regions Bank.
Prior to that, Mia Cucina was on Gunbarrel Road and on North Market Street.
For its going-out-of-business sale, Mia Cucina will be open today from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. and Monday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Contact staff writer Tim Omarzu at tomar zu@timesfreepress.com or www.facebook.com/tim.omarzu or twitter.com/TimOmarzu or 423-757-6651.