New Food City On Broad Street To Open By Spring 2023; New East Ridge Store Planned

  • Wednesday, August 25, 2021
  • Joseph Dycus
Food City CEO and President Steve Smith said the new mixed-use store is coming to Broad Street by the spring of 2023
Food City CEO and President Steve Smith said the new mixed-use store is coming to Broad Street by the spring of 2023

Food City CEO and President Steve Smith says downtown Chattanooga will have a new mixed-use Food City on Broad Street and West 13th Street by Spring 2023. During a short press conference on Wednesday afternoon, he spoke briefly about new stores coming to downtown, East Ridge and Bartow County. 

“We’ve been working with downtown stakeholders and design professionals to develop it in a unique way,” another spokesman said. “In order to conform with form-based code, this mixed used development will also consist of 16,000 square feet of complimentary two-level office and retail space along Broad, and six, two-story townhouses along West 13th.”

President Smith said Broad Street Food City will serve as the “anchor” of the project that will be centered around a 53,000 square foot supermarket. This store will contain a bakery, deli, Asian wok, a food bar, and other similar amenities. 

“We’ll have one of the largest seating areas, with over 115 seats, of any store in our company,” Mr. Hunt said. He said the store will have a Starbucks and home delivery as well.

“We anticipate that the store will be open by the Spring of 2023,” the CEO said, “and are confident it will be a fun place to dine and shop, and will be a complimentary addition to the neighborhood it is in.”

He said Food City will own all three locations, but that the downtown store will sit on leased property that will also be developed. He said the store in East Ridge, which is planned to open in Summer 2022, is being converted from a “blighted piece of property.” The CEO said he hopes it will become the “catalyst” for other redevelopment projects in the area. 

“In addition to great food, we anticipate being able to offer beer and wine in a friend-welcoming atmosphere,” added Dan Glei, Food City senior vice president of merchandising/marketing.

The downtown Chattanooga store will include an in-store bakery and deli offering fresh baked goods, deli meats, cheeses, hot foods, fireplace, fresh sushi, hickory smoker, pizza oven, Asian wok, fresh food bar offering a variety of soup, salad and fruit selections, a beer and wine tasting station, expanded outside dining area, and one of the company’s largest seating areas, with over 115 total seats.  The food court will offer a restaurant-quality experience for breakfast, lunch, and dinner into the evening, said officials. 

Full-service meat and seafood departments will offer pre-marinated/seasoned oven ready products, a complete selection of top-quality meats, including Certified Angus Beef.  In-house meat cutters will be available to hand cut steaks and fresh meat to order. Expanded grocery, frozen food, and produce departments will go well beyond the normal fare with a huge selection of gourmet, international, and specialty items. 

The Food City Floral Boutique will be staffed with a designer seven days per week, offering a full assortment of fresh-cut floral arrangements, bouquets, gift items, and more. 

Rapid checkout service will be provided by five check-out lanes and 10 self-checkouts. 

The location will also feature a Food City Pharmacy, equipped with a private consultation room and walk-up outdoor pick-up window.

Several award-winning energy saving concepts will also be included, ranging from energy efficient glass cooler doors, parking lot lights, and refrigeration systems to motion sensors, and 100 percent LED lighting, it was stated.   

“Successful communities offer a complete mix of uses—with jobs, goods, services, and culture accessible within a short walk or bike from home,” said Mayor Tim Kelly. “As Chattanooga continues to grow, this new Food City is a shining example of how quality urban design and land use can make our downtown more livable and connected—and, by bringing fresh healthy food to a neighborhood that needs it, more equitable.” 
 
“River City Company is excited to welcome Food City to Broad Street in Downtown Chattanooga," said Emily Mack, River City Company president and chief executive officer. "By listening to community voices and using urban design principles, the store will match local architecture and serve as a tremendous asset – providing fresh and healthy food within walking distance to downtown residents and employees.”

Food City’s second location, a 54,000 square foot supermarket and Gas n’ Go fuel center, will be located at the intersection of Ringgold Road and Bales Avenue in East Ridge.  The new store will replace the company’s existing location across the street and is expected to open early Summer of 2022.  

The East Ridge store will include an in-store bakery and deli offering fresh baked goods, deli meats, cheeses, hot foods, large café seating area, fireplace, fresh sushi, hickory smoker, pizza oven, fresh food bar offering a variety of soup, salad and fruit selections, and full-service catering and event planning.  Full-service meat and seafood departments will offer pre-marinated/seasoned oven ready products, a complete selection of top-quality meats, including Certified Angus Beef.  In-house meat cutters will be available to hand cut steaks and fresh meat to order.  Expanded grocery, frozen food, and produce departments will go well beyond the normal fare with a selection of gourmet, international, and specialty items.  The Food City Floral Boutique will be staffed with a designer seven days per week, offering a full assortment of fresh-cut floral arrangements, bouquets, gift items, and more.  Rapid checkout service will be provided by six check-out lanes and seven self-checkouts. 
 
The location will also feature a Food City Pharmacy, equipped with a private consultation room and walk-up outdoor pick-up window, Food City Gas N’ Go including diesel fuel, GoCart curbside pick-up, Starbucks café, offering a wide assortment of blended hot and cold coffees and beverages, as well as an assortment of breakfast sandwiches and pastries, and a Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union in-store branch bank location. 
 
Several award-winning energy saving concepts will also be included, ranging from energy efficient glass cooler doors, parking lot lights, and refrigeration systems to motion sensors, 100 percent LED lighting, and open rafter ceilings. 

Officials with the city believe the amount of added services the new store plans to offer will draw shoppers from well beyond the East Ridge area, including the Brainerd area, Missionary Ridge, and parts of North Georgia. 
 
“We are extremely excited for the construction of a new Food City and Gas N’ Go,” said Brian Williams, mayor of East Ridge.  “It has been a pleasure working with Food City regarding this new development.  The additional services, products, and jobs the new store will provide to our area is incredible.  We have been diligently working to attract and recruit new development in this area.  I too, believe this modern state-of-the-art Food City supermarket will be a catalyst for additional new development on the West end of East Ridge.  We thank Food City for their continued belief and support in East Ridge.”


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