The Block, Chattanooga’s newest downtown development which puts a spotlight on Chattanooga’s growing outdoor reputation, announced a new tenant. The anchor tenant of The Block, High Point Climbing and Fitness -a state of the art indoor/outdoor climbing and bouldering facility with an 11,000 square foot public art piece with 5,000 square feet of functional climbing space on the Broad Street façade of the building, is creating a 3,000 square foot kid’s only climbing gym which will be called, Funtopia by High Point. Located at the corner of Chestnut and 3rd Street, Funtopia by High Point will fill the last remaining retail space in The Block.
The ribbon cutting and open house held last Friday brought over 150 to The Block to hear the announcement and tour the facility which also includes a Rock/Creek storefront and a soon to be completed, Chattz Coffee Shop.
“With our current membership over 600 and daily passes well above projections, we feel this is the perfect time to expand our facility and to cater to a portion of our clientele that have come to our gym in mass: children and their families,” states John Wiygul, partner and general manager of High Point Climbing and Fitness. “With a location between the Creative Discovery Museum and the Tennessee Aquarium, Funtopia will be another great family attraction in Downtown Chattanooga.”
With total investment in The Block from all partners and storefronts totaling 7.5 million dollars, The Block is 100% a local development, not only from the local businesses housed in the facility, but also utilizing a local architect, Craig Peavey, and contractor, The Strauss Co.
“The Block has already proven to be a game changer in the way our community experiences downtown”, states CEO of River City Company, Kim White. “The facility highlights Chattanooga’s outdoor reputation to residents and as well as visitors. We’ve been thrilled with the crowds and the overwhelming positive response it’s already received. We are also pleased that all the businesses in the Block are local entrepreneurs investing in our downtown. This is part of what keeps the Downtown Chattanooga experience authentic.”
Funtopia by High Point is slated to open in 2014.