KNOXVILLE - As construction winds down
along the Cumberland Avenue area, business owners and students said they
are excited for what's to come.
As of January, only one major construction project was still underway
along Cumberland Avenue, and it was planned as home to several
businesses seeking student living.
Lease manager for Tenn. Student Living Megan White said the building
will house a First Tennessee Bank and other businesses. The building was
set to open in August 2018.
"Right now we have First Tennessee that will be under us which is great
- right now I can't disclose all the other businesses, but I know we
have a lot of people interested and it'll bring a lot of foot traffic
and businesses to the strip, so we are excited about it," White said.
Construction on the roads and sidewalks of Cumberland Avenue was
officially complete after two long years in August 2016. General manager
of Hibachi Factory Brett Manzo said it's been a tough road that not all
businesses have survived, but now that the work is complete, things have
begun picking up.
"We're definitely seeing a lot more foot traffic and dine-in and carry
out orders are picking up for us, it's been hard at times to even get in
our front door just from construction," Manzo said.
Recently closing up shop for good was the long standing Krystal and
Wendy's restaurants. The Tin Roof location still sat vacant as of
January. Local 8 News reached out to real estate agents and property
managers of each location to find out if any interest has been taken; as
of Monday evening, no responses were released.
UT student Kylen Spearmon said he's not worried about future businesses
and feels the end of construction is the beginning of long standing
businesses.
"I have noticed a lot of businesses shut down, but when one shuts down
another comes back, so hopefully something comes back and have a better
impact on the strip," Spearmon said. |
|