DosBros is bringing its fresh Mexican grill restaurant concept to East Ridge with plans to tap into the flurry of activity taking place near Camp Jordan.
"We've seen a lot of growth in that area in general," said Shiv Patel, the eatery's owner-operator.
Patel said that DosBros will have a half dozen restaurants in the Chattanooga area when the newest unit opens late this month on Camp Jordan Parkway near Bass Pro Shops.
He said that opening a restaurant during the coronavirus pandemic is tough, but all the expected precautions will take place. Patel said DosBros will offer dine-in though some of the tables are blocked off for social distancing.
John Healy of Wolftever Development, which is overseeing the Jordan Crossing mixed-use project where DosBros is opening, said he likes the concept and the food.
"We feel like they're a great addition," he said.
DosBros is taking 2,600 square feet in some of the development's small shop space, Healy said. That leaves just one 3,200-square-foot site vacant and, Healy said, he's looking for another fast-casual restaurant.
Also, Healy said that Wolftever has just 12 to 13 acres remaining at Jordan Crossing, and he's in negotiations related to eight acres.
Patel said it's about a $700,000 investment to open such an eatery, which is expected to be slightly larger in size than most of its restaurants. He said he's partnering with the DosBros corporate office as a franchisee and looking to open more restaurants. Patel cited the corridors between Chattanooga and Nashville and Knoxville.
At the newest restaurant, however, he said he's looking forward to "working with the East Ridge community and Camp Jordan."
Earlier this week, Chattanooga hotel developer Dynamic Group unveiled plans for a new Town Place Suites by Marriott for East Ridge near Camp Jordan. That hotel is to go up this year and open in 2022 along with two other properties - another Town Place Suites in Hixson and an Element by Westin in East Brainerd - by Dynamic Group.
TopGolf was a key opening at Jordan Crossing just off Exit 1 at Interstate-75 in August. Bass Pro also serves as an anchor at the development that includes a Chick-fil-A restaurant, Starbucks, Hampton Inn hotel, Jonathan's Grille, and Buddy's bar-b-q among other offerings.
East Ridge has benefited from the Border Region Retail Development District state sales tax incentive. The incentive allows the city to recapture the growth in sales tax collections within the zone and then plow those funds back into repaying investments in the area.
Also, the Chattanooga Red Wolves soccer stadium opened last year just across I-75 from Jordan Crossing. Developer Bob Martino has bought nearly 100 acres and the Utah developer's plan includes 400 apartment and condominium units, 375 hotel rooms, and 475,000 square feet of commercial space. He's also planning a network of walking and nature trails that could connect under I-75 with Camp Jordan.
Martino's project would be the biggest investment ever in East Ridge and is projected to create up to 1,200 jobs.
Contact Mike Pare at mpare@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @MikePareTFP.