A 35,000-square foot hhgregg appliance and electronics store will be part of the new Waterside Lifetyle Center mixed-use development on Shallowford Road across from Hamilton Place Mall.
It will be the first Chattanooga unit for the Indianapolis-based chain that has many stores in the Midwest and Southeast.
Ken Defoor is developing 38 acres at the site of a former residential development near Napier Drive and McCutcheon Road.
The site is expected to include retail stores, offices, hotels, restaurants and residential.
Mr. Defoor said he is negotiating with another retailer as well as two hotels operations and an upscale restaurant that will be new to Chattanooga.
He said work will not start for 18 to 24 months on the residential component of the project.
A lake has been completed in the center of the property. City Councilman Jack Benson said a natural spring was discovered that is feeding the lake and is being used for irrigation.
Landscaping has begun around the lake, and streets and sidewalks are being installed. Mr. DeFoor said the lake will be the centerpiece of the project.
Councilman Benson said, "Mr. Defoor has worked well with the community, and this project is really starting to take shape."
The project is expected to exceed $100 million when completed.
Mr. DeFoor was able to assemble a number of residential properties over several years.
Remaining at the outskirts of the project are the Dr. Joe Dzik office, a church, the former Knife Museum and the Allstate Insurance office complex. Mr. Defoor's brother, Byron Defoor, owns the former knife museum and the insurance complex. The knife museum is now the Sunland Building and it is occupied by the Sunland firm and Grace Healthcare.
hhgregg had its origin in 1955, according to the company website, "in a small storefront on Indianapolis' north side when H.H. and Fansy Gregg first walked the sales floor of their new appliance store. The Greggs' new store featured washing machines, clothes dryers, refrigerators and outdoor grills. Not long after, the family began selling black & white and the newest color television sets, along with other electronic products.
"The business was founded on personal, caring customer service. Customers enjoyed the personal service and attention to detail the store offered, and business prospered. Over the years, hhgregg added new locations throughout Alabama, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia.
"Today, hhgregg is one of the nation's leading retailers of home appliances and consumer electronics. Still operated by the Gregg family, the services we offer continue to show that we care about our customers' complete satisfaction.
"Our expanded inventory of the best technology and brand names. We're proud of our wide selection of the latest products from the top brand names. Browse through our selection of over 100 digital TVs or 400 major appliances in stock every day."
It says new hhgregg stores in Georgia and Lexington, Ky., "allow you to choose from the widest selection of appliances and electronics in one place. Get more name brands and more choices, with over 400 major appliances and more than 100 digital TVs in stock every day. Plus, over 170 of those appliances are working models - try it before you buy it."