These are businesses that opened, closed, reopened, expanded or announced plans to open in the Chattanooga area in the month of August.
OPENED
- Trader Joe's: Noah Stevens says that Chattanooga will see what he terms "a food adventure" at the new Trader Joe's grocery store on 2111 Gunbarrel Road that he oversees.
- No Hard Feelings: Located at 806 Broad St. in a 2,000-square-foot space, the new bar is open from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday-Thursday and until 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.
The bar has about 11 or 12 signature cocktails and it leans towards the tropical or rum-based libations, but it can make just about anything. Food items include empanadas from Belen de la Cruz out of Marietta, Georgia and snack items such as nuts and fancy baked cheese items from Poppytons Pattiserie on M.L. King are also on the menu.
- Jefferson's Restaurant in Ringgold: This is the second Jefferson's franchise opened by Summerville, Georgia, resident Todd Kingsolver and his business partner, whose first Jefferson's opened in Summerville in November 2019.
Kingsolver said the sports-themed family restaurant specializing in wings, burgers and oysters is something needed in downtown Ringgold, where it will be the first business to open in the new building at 86 Tennessee St.
The restaurant seats 200 people, including outdoor patio seating and a private dining room that can be reserved for events.
CLOSED
- Brown Industries: One of the pioneering companies in Dalton's carpet industry is shutting down this fall after more than 60 years in the business, idling 433 workers.
In an announcement of the closing, Brown Industries CEO J. Darren Wilcox blamed the shutdown on "unforeseen business conditions" but did not offer any other explanation for the closing of the business amid a strong market in most of the floorcovering industry. Brown Industries began laying off workers this week and plans to close entirely by Oct. 1, according to a WARN notice filed with the Georgia Department of Labor.
- Regis: Hair salon chain Regis Corp. is closing its distribution center in Chattanooga by the end of the year, emptying one of the largest facilities in the Bonny Oaks Industrial Park that once employed more than 350 workers.
REOPENED
- Aretha Frankensteins: Aretha Frankensteins, the popular restaurant on Tremont Avenue known for fluffy pancakes and waffles and long wait times for meals, has reopened after being shut down for 20 months.
- Sluggo's: The North Shore vegetarian restaurant Sluggo's reopened its dining room with indoor dining this week for the first time in nearly 17 months.
The new indoors eating space has added a bar and remodeled look after Sluggo's obtained a liquor license this summer to begin selling alcohol.
EXPANDING
HHM: Chattanooga's biggest accounting firm is expanding into Bradley County with a new office next year in the heart of Cleveland's oldest and quickly redeveloping part of downtown.
HHM purchased an abandoned car dealership and office next to the Museum Center at 5ive Points and will convert the 2-story structure into its third company office. When the 7,000-square-foot structure is renovated and converted into offices and an outside garden, the new facility should house about 10 HHM accountants and other staffers.
Simply Bank: Rhea County's biggest bank opened its first office in Chattanooga at 1740 Gunbarrel Road.
COMING SOON
- Chattanooga Selfie Museum: In September, Mikesha Lacy plans to open the Chattanooga Selfie Museum where people can take selfie photos in at least 15 rooms or booths set up with different visual backgrounds to capture whatever mood or appeal someone may want.
Located downtown at 1401 Williams St., the museum will allow patrons to get their favorite selfie images for a $20 admission fee for the first hour and a prorated fee for any additional time. Rooms can be used for professional photo shoots or a casual Instagrammer's selfie session. Pets are allowed to tag along, too.
- Hello Monty Restaurant: A veteran Chattanooga restaurateur is joining with his brother to open a new downtown eatery, and its name is a nod to the city's historic Southside.
Rob Gentry and brother Clay have bought a parcel at Main and Cowart streets where they're renovating and remaking the site into a 185-seat restaurant called Hello Monty.
Rob Gentry said Montgomery Avenue was an early name of Main Street. Plans are to open the 6,300-square-foot Hello Monty eatery and bar in mid-October. Initially, the restaurant will serve dinner six days a week and later move into lunch, Gentry said.
- Six18 Restaurant & Lounge: The new restaurant will open on Georgia Avenue across from the Hamilton County Courthouse where Jefferson's and Brass Register had operated for many years. Plans are for the new eatery to open early this fall.
- Riverfront Surgery Center: A new medical building underway at the former Alstom site in Chattanooga will hold an independent surgery center specializing in spine, pain management and orthopedic procedures.
The center, which is expected to open in the fall, will offer same-day surgical care at the facility that will have four operating rooms, said Chattanooga physician Dr. Jay Jolley.
- Compiled by Allison Collins