The fourth and final vacant site facing the public square of Cambridge Square will soon be filled with a 12,000-square-foot building to be erected over the next year to house two expanding retailers at the Ooltewah center.
Barn Door Boutique and Sweet E's Children's Boutique are planning to expand into the first floor of a new two-story facility that will be built as the 16th building at Cambridge Square constructed since the retail, restaurant and office development first opened a decade ago.
Barn Door Boutique, a high-end casual women's clothing retailer that opened a 2,000-square-foot store six years ago at Cambridge Square, is expanding to 3,000 square feet in the new building. Sweet E's, a baby and children's boutique, will take another 2,500 square feet of the new building.
The new structure is in the final stages of design and will be constructed by BP Construction, which has overseen the Cambridge project since its inception.
"The expansion of these two retail businesses reflects the staying power of local entrepreneurs in the greater Chattanooga market," said Jim Cheney in a news release. Cheney oversees marketing and leasing for the development. "They have worked extremely hard to build customer loyalty and provide shopping experiences that are only found in boutique environments where the owners and the employees know their patrons. They've also found a good balance between brick and mortar and online sales, and the fact that they are seeking more space is thrilling for our team."
Melissa Paryse and her daughter, Alli Henry, own and oversee operations and sales and marketing for the Barn Door Boutique.
"We are overwhelmed with excitement to combine both Barn Door Boutique storefronts and our warehouse space into one location," Paryse said in an announcement of the expansion plans. "We love our Barn Door Bellas - our female shoppers from all walks of life who model our clothing, shoes and accessories on social media."
The Barn Door Boutique also hosts a variety of events, such as Sip & Shop, private shopping events, botox parties, FaceBook Lives and mommy makeovers.
Sweet E's Children's Boutique opened in 2020 in Cambridge and is owned by Kacie Trexler.
"I said I would never move the shop again, but Cambridge Square and the Ooltewah community have changed that plan," she said in the announcement of the new development. "I am excited for the opportunity to grow and serve the community with new and exciting products and experiences."
In an announcement of the planned expansion, Cheney said Cambridge Square is fully occupied with local restaurants, professional service firms, medical practices and services, and small space flex offices. The residential district at Cambridge Square is finishing its first phase of high-end single-family homes, with the recent addition of a clubhouse and resort pool.
"The pandemic years felt very touch-and-go, but because of the caliber of our tenants and their commitment to this market, we came through stronger than ever, and we're looking forward to more announcements in the near future.," Cheney said in a statement.
Cambridge Square has developed more than 100,000 square feet of retail and commercial space and continues to expand, Cheney said.
- Compiled by Dave Flessner