Oak Ridge Today

Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers open, more businesses planned

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Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers was open, as pictured above on Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018, at South Illinois and South Tulane avenues as part of Main Street Oak Ridge, the 58-acre redevelopment of the former Oak Ridge Mall. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers was open, as pictured above on Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018, at South Illinois and South Tulane avenues as part of Main Street Oak Ridge, the 58-acre redevelopment of the former Oak Ridge Mall. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers is open at South Illinois and South Tulane avenues, and more businesses are planned at Main Street Oak Ridge, the 58-acre redevelopment of the former Oak Ridge Mall.

So far, Main Street Oak Ridge features a dozen new businesses—including retail stores, a restaurant, and a hotel—and the relocated American Museum of Science and Energy near JCPenney, an anchor store at the northeast side of the mall.

Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, which opened Tuesday in a building that will include another business, was busy Tuesday afternoon, with a parking lot that was mostly full, a drive-through line that wrapped around two sides of the building, and a customer line that stretched from the counter inside to the door. The restaurant has been getting good reviews online.

Plans for the new restaurant were announced in May 2017, and construction was under way at the 1.4-acre site, which is next to the rebuilt Taco Bell restaurant on South Illinois Avenue, in January. [Read more…]

Mattress Firm open on South Illinois

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The new Mattress Firm store is pictured above on South Illinois Avenue on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The new Mattress Firm store is pictured above on South Illinois Avenue on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

A Mattress Firm store is now open on South Illinois Avenue.

The store is near Panda Express, a relatively new restaurant that is, like, Mattress Firm, on property that was once home to a Ruby Tuesday restaurant near Walmart, Rutgers Avenue, and Main Street Oak Ridge.

On its website, Mattress Firm says it has more than 3,500 company-operated and franchised stores across 49 states and the largest geographic footprint in the United States among multi-brand mattress retailers. The company was founded in 1986, and it is based in Houston. [Read more…]

Two new stores at Main Street Oak Ridge

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Pictured above on Friday, Jan. 5, 2018, are two new businesses at Main Street Oak Ridge: World Finance Loans & Taxes and The Spa Lounge Lash & Nail Studio. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Pictured above on Friday, Jan. 5, 2018, are two new businesses at Main Street Oak Ridge: World Finance Loans & Taxes and The Spa Lounge Lash & Nail Studio. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

There are two more new businesses at Main Street Oak Ridge.

There are now a total of 11 new stores, restaurants, and businesses that have been announced and are either open or under construction at Main Street Oak Ridge, which is being developed by RealtyLink of South Carolina.

One of the new businesses, World Finance Loans & Taxes, was open earlier this month. The second, The Spa Lounge Lash & Nail Studio, didn’t appear to be complete as of January 5, although it’s not clear if that has changed.

Main Street Oak Ridge is the 58-acre project to redevelop the former Oak Ridge Mall as a mixed-use development that could also include retailers, restaurants, and residential units. [Read more…]

Photos: Construction under way at TownePlace Suites

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Construction is pictured above on the TownePlace Suites by Marriott, a four-story, 81-room hotel on 2.6 acres near the intersection of Wilson Street and Rutgers Avenue, close to JCPenney, on Friday, Jan. 5, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Construction is pictured above on the TownePlace Suites by Marriott, a four-story, 81-room hotel on 2.6 acres near the intersection of Wilson Street and Rutgers Avenue, close to JCPenney, on Friday, Jan. 5, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Construction work is under way at TownePlace Suites by Marriott, a four-story, 81-room hotel on 2.6 acres near the intersection of Wilson Street and Rutgers Avenue, close to JCPenney. Here are photos of the construction work this month.

Oak Ridge Today last reported on the hotel in August 2016, after the Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission unanimously approved an amended site plan for the hotel.

The TownePlace Suites will be owned by Chander Bhateja, who is also the developer and franchisee. Bhateja, an Oak Ridge resident, owns three hotels in Knoxville and others in the Southeast, Oak Ridge Today reported at the time.

TownePlace Suites is at Main Street Oak Ridge, the 58-acre project to redevelop the former Oak Ridge Mall as a mixed-use development that could also include retailers, restaurants, and residential units. The hotel property, which is separate from the property being leased by RealtyLink, the South Carolina-based developer of Main Street Oak Ridge, is owned by Series C of NP Road Partners LLC of Oak Ridge, according to state records, and Bhateja is the registered agent of NP Road Partners LLC. [Read more…]

City, Chamber kick off holidays with ‘Shop Oak Ridge’ at Main Street on Tuesday

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A sign showing some of the stores at Main Street Oak Ridge is pictured above. (Photo by City of Oak Ridge)

A sign showing some of the stores at Main Street Oak Ridge is pictured above. (Photo by City of Oak Ridge)

 

The City of Oak Ridge and the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce will kick off the holiday shopping season with a special event called “Shop Oak Ridge” at Main Street Oak Ridge on Tuesday.

The event will begin at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, November 21, under the tent at Main Street Oak Ridge, the 58-acre mixed use retail development that replaced the Oak Ridge Mall, a press release said. The property was sold to RealtyLink in June 2016, and demolition of the former mall began in July 2016. Less than a year later, it had been replaced with a new concept and new stores, the press release said.

Businesses that have opened locations in Main Street Oak Ridge include: [Read more…]

Rezoning could allow commercial development on former AMSE property

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The 7.44-acre parcel outlined in red above could be rezoned and allow commercial development south of the American Museum of Science and Energy on South Tulane Avenue. (Image courtesy State of Tennessee)

The 7.44-acre parcel outlined in red above could be rezoned and allow commercial development south of the American Museum of Science and Energy on South Tulane Avenue. The DoubleTree Hotel is at center-left, and the U.S. Post Office is at upper right. (Image courtesy State of Tennessee)

 

Note: This story was updated at 10:45 a.m. Aug. 12.

A rezoning being considered by Oak Ridge municipal officials could allow commercial development on property that is now mostly a grass field south of the American Museum of Science and Energy. The 7.44-acre site could be used by retailers, restaurants, or groceries, or for office space or multi-family developments, according to a zoning change request filed by the owner.

The Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission will consider the rezoning request on Thursday. The request was filed by TN Oak Ridge Illinois LLC of Greenville, South Carolina. That company was set up by RealtyLink, the developer of Main Street Oak Ridge at the former Oak Ridge Mall.

The property includes a grass field along South Illinois Avenue between South Tulane Avenue and Badger Avenue. The northern portion of the property includes part of the AMSE parking lot.

The parcel, appraised at $908,300, is located within the city’s central commercial core, the Oak Ridge city staff said in a review of the rezoning request. There are commercial properties on the opposite side of South Tulane Avenue, including the Main Street Oak Ridge redevelopment, the staff said. There is also commercial development on the other side of South Illinois Avenue. [Read more…]

T.J.Maxx now open in Oak Ridge

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The new T.J. Maxx store in Oak Ridge is pictured above on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The new T.J. Maxx store in Oak Ridge is pictured above on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The new T.J.Maxx store is open in Oak Ridge.

The new store opened Sunday, August 6, at Main Street Oak Ridge, the 58-acre project to redevelop the former Oak Ridge Mall.

T.J.Maxx is one of the nation’s leading off-price retailers with more than 1,000 stores currently operating in 49 states and Puerto Rico, a press release said.

T.J.Maxx stores have something for the entire family, the press release said, from fashion and accessories to jewelry, home, beauty, pet products, kids, toys, and more.

“Our newest store in Oak Ridge will offer an ever-changing selection of high-quality, on-trend, and brand-name merchandise at the amazing prices that T.J.Maxx is known for,” said Tim Miner, president of T.J.Maxx. “Our buyers search the globe to discover the best in every department, and we’re excited to bring those finds to a new neighborhood. With thousands of new items delivered to our stores every day, we know our shoppers will find something surprising and unexpected every time they shop.” [Read more…]

Rack Room Shoes now open in Oak Ridge

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Rack Room Shoes Interior July 27 2017

The interior of the new Rack Room Shoes store is pictured above at Main Street Oak Ridge. The store opened Thursday, July 27, 2017. (Photo courtesy Rack Room Shoes)

 

The new Rack Room Shoes store opened at Main Street Oak Ridge on Thursday.

The new store is 5,000 square feet. It is near Belk and between two other new stores at Main Street Oak Ridge: rue21 and Ulta.

Rack Room Shoes is a family footwear retailer.

It’s the fifth new store to open at Main Street Oak Ridge since mid-June. Main Street Oak Ridge is the 58-acre project to redevelop the former Oak Ridge Mall.

The other four stores that have also opened are rue21, maurices, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and PetSmart. The other three stores expected to open soon are Electronic Express, T.J. Maxx, and Ulta. [Read more…]

Rack Room Shoes opens Thursday

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The new Rack Room Shoes store is pictured above at Main Street Oak Ridge on Wednesday, July 26, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The new Rack Room Shoes store is pictured above at Main Street Oak Ridge on Wednesday, July 26, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Rack Room Shoes will open at Main Street Oak Ridge on Thursday.

The new store will be 5,000 square feet. It will be near Belk and between two other new stores at Main Street Oak Ridge: rue21 and Ulta.

Rack Room Shoes is a family footwear retailer, the company said.

It’s the fifth new store to open at Main Street Oak Ridge since mid-June. Main Street Oak Ridge is the 58-acre project to redevelop the former Oak Ridge Mall.

The other four stores that have already opened are rue21, maurices, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and PetSmart. The other three stores expected to open soon are Electronic Express, T.J. Maxx, and Ulta. [Read more…]

PetSmart has grand opening, ribbon-cutting on Saturday

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The new PetSmart store at Main Street Oak Ridge is scheduled to open Monday, July 10, 2017, with a grand opening scheduled for Saturday, July 15. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The new PetSmart store at Main Street Oak Ridge opened Monday, July 10, 2017, and it has a grand opening on Saturday, July 15. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The new PetSmart store in Oak Ridge will have a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony on Saturday, July 15.

The new store is located at 203 Main Street, in the new Main Street Oak Ridge.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony is at 8:45 a.m. Saturday. Pets are allowed.

The Oak Ridge store location will feature PetSmart’s new Pinnacle Pet Nutrition section, an expanded collection of pet food products featuring high-protein, natural, grain-free, minimally processed, and raw pet food, a press release said.

“This food type is the fastest growing in the overall pet food category and includes brands such as Only Natural Pet, a natural pet brand featuring holistic, paleo-inspired natural foods and wholesome high-protein recipes that are dehydrated, freeze-dried, and air-dried,” the release said. “PetSmart is the exclusive national retailer for Only Natural Pet.” [Read more…]

PetSmart opened Monday; grand opening scheduled for Saturday

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The new PetSmart store at Main Street Oak Ridge is scheduled to open Monday, July 10, 2017, with a grand opening scheduled for Saturday, July 15. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The new PetSmart store at Main Street Oak Ridge is scheduled to open Monday, July 10, 2017, with a grand opening scheduled for Saturday, July 15. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The new PetSmart store at Main Street Oak Ridge is scheduled to open today (Monday, July 10), and a grand opening is scheduled for Saturday.

The grand opening is scheduled for 8:45 a.m. Saturday, July 15. Pets are allowed.

It’s the fourth of eight new stores to open at Main Street Oak Ridge since mid-June. Main Street Oak Ridge is the 58-acre project to redevelop the former Oak Ridge Mall. Besides PetSmart, other stores that have opened at Main Street Oak Ridge are rue21, maurices, and Dick’s Sporting Goods. [Read more…]

maurices open at Main Street Oak Ridge

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maurices at Main Street Oak Ridge is pictured above in June 2017. (Photo by City of Oak Ridge)

maurices at Main Street Oak Ridge is pictured above in June 2017. (Photo by City of Oak Ridge)

 

There was a ribbon-cutting ceremony for maurices, a women’s clothing store, at Main Street Oak Ridge on Friday, June 23. Here are a few photos and a video by the City of Oak Ridge.

The maurices store is one of eight new stores opening at Main Street Oak Ridge, the 58-acre project to redevelop the former Oak Ridge Mall. The other seven stores are Dick’s Sporting Goods, Electronic Express, PetSmart, Rack Room Shoes, rue21, T.J. Maxx, and Ulta.

Oak Ridge Today has previously reported on the grand openings for Dick’s Sporting Goods and rue21. [Read more…]