Prado Bridal and Formal Wear is taking up residence at a new location soon, as the longtime Chattanooga retailer moves from the Gunbarrel Road corridor to a repurposed medical building near the intersection of Lee Highway and Shallowford Road.
Chet and Vikki Prado have purchased the Stonewall Buildings off Lee Parkway Drive and are currently in the process of remodeling. Prado is currently in the Hamilton Place orbit, but the shop’s lease expires at the end of April, and the Prados say they’re in need of more space.
There are two buildings at Prado’s new site, and the Prado store will go into the larger building and eventually lease out the other.
Chet Prado says the new Prado building is about 25 percent larger than the store’s current location. This will mark the fifth move in Prado’s 35-year history.
The Prados started out running a tanning salon at Highland Plaza, then began selling prom gowns at the request of customers, then wedding dresses for the same customers as they grew up.
Prado moved to Northgate Mall at one point, then moved to a spot on Shallowford Road near Interstate 75 before moving to Lee Highway then closer in to Hamilton Place.
The first Northgate shop was 900 square foot, said Chet. The new facility will give Prado 5,000 square feet and be remodeled to suit.
Prado staffs nine employees, including the owners.
Prado has dressed some high-profile clients, including past American Idol contestant and local Lauren Alaina. Prado also dressed wedding party members in billionaire Donald Trump’s second wedding and characters on the TV show “Dallas.”
“We used to see ourselves on TV all the time,” said Prado.
He also said Prado will start offering bridal gown delivery and gown preservation, in which after the wedding, the shop will clean and store a bride’s gown in a vacuum-sealed box.
The new Prado is expected to open sometime in early May. The shop has to be out of its current spot by April 30.
“Or else, we’ll be out on the street trying to sell,” said Prado.
There will be sales at the end of this term and when the new store opens, he said.
Contact staff writer Alex Green at agreen@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6480.