Food City breaks ground in downtown Chattanooga

Abingdon, Virginia-based Food City broke ground on Thursday on a new location at 1375 Broad Street in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The 53,300-plus-square-foot supermarket located in the downtown area is expected to open late summer, Food City said.

To conform to downtown Chattanooga’s code requirements, the Food City- anchored, mixed-use project will also consist of approximately 16,000-square-feet of two-level retail and office space along Broad Street and six two-story townhouses along W. 13th Street, the grocer said in a statement.

“We are proud to work with the City of Chattanooga and River City Company to develop this very unique project,” said Steven C. Smith, Food City president and CEO. "We are confident that this will be a very enjoyable and fun place to dine and shop, as well as a complimentary addition to the neighborhood.”

The downtown Chattanooga store will have an in-store bakery/deli, with an Asian wok, hot food bar and fresh sushi. Other features include a full-service meat and seafood department with in-house butchers.

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

This store location will include Food City’s largest seating area with over seats, including a sunroom and large outdoor patio, the grocer said. The store will also feature a floral boutique, pharmacy, food court and Starbucks Café. Food City's GoCart curbside pickup will be available at this location.

The new location will include energy-saving concepts, including energy-efficient glass cooler doors, parking lot lights and refrigeration systems, as well as motion sensors and 100% LED lighting, Food City said.

 “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,” said Mayor Tim Kelly in a statement.