The Chattanooga Choo Choo is planning an $8 million renovation and restoration project. The complex will include a comedy club, a 500-capacity music and entertainment venue, retail space, and two new restaurants with outdoor patio seating off of Market and 14th streets. The project will also include $1 million to be invested in renovating the hotel rooms in Building One.
“We will bring the building back to its early historical form, showcasing the original architectural elements,” said Jon Kinsey, managing partner of the Chattanooga Choo Choo. “By returning the historic building to its original plan, we will honor the past while creating new and exciting attractions in the heart of Chattanooga.”
The Chattanooga Choo Choo is the city’s largest hotel with 363 rooms. It was completed in 1909 and served as a rail center known as the Terminal Station.
“We’re excited about this investment the Choo Choo is making in our city. This new entertainment district will create a place where people can eat, be entertained, and spend the night,” said Bob Doak, president and CEO of the Chattanooga Convention & Visitors Bureau. “It’s great to have so many dedicated people investing their own dollars to make this city even better. Chattanooga truly is a city that has been reborn and transformed.”
The new complex will include: SAM’S All American Sports Bar and Grill, located just off the newly renovated lobby; The Comedy Catch, which will move from its longtime Brainerd location to the new complex; the Blue Fish Oyster Bar, which will feature an extensive menu of seafood dishes; and a new entertainment venue located down from The Comedy Catch on 14th Street. The venue will be managed by Track 29 and will feature a mix of country, southern rock, indie, and bluegrass. Additional retail space will be available around the Chattanooga Choo Choo complex.
Source: Chattanooga Choo Choo