Renovation of old grocery site in Norris could bring dining, other options to Tennessee 61
This drawing by architect Brian Ewers at Dollar & Ewers shows what the refurbished shopping center might look like at Andersonville Highway and Norris Freeway, including a new convenience store with gas pumps in the front lot. The convenience store is just an idea, so far, the developers said.
The unnamed center, which was once the site of a supermarket, most recently served as a location for the Tennessee College of Applied Technology, which had been allowed to use the former grocery’s space free of charge.
Still housed in the center are Anderson County government offices that collect real estate taxes and sell and process motor vehicle registrations and renewals, along with a hair salon called The Cuttin’ Corner.
Business partners Ken Seaman and Dave Moore say they have the center property – which includes nearly four acres – under contract, and are seeking approval from the Norris Planning Commission to renovate and market the site.
In recent Facebook posts, the developers said the site includes an “approximately 27,000 [square-foot] multi-tenant building with flexible space for retail, medical or a restaurant.”
The post said that “some possible retail options include grocery, auto parts, hardware, cellular service, banking/lending, fitness, coffee shop, pastry/donut/bakery, pet store, entertainment or outdoorsman store (hunting, fishing, camping and or marine).
“Medical options include chiropractic, health and wellness, walk-in clinic or dentist office. The open corner has the potential for a nice sit-down restaurant, a drive-through or possibly a combination thereof. Other options could be a [convenience store] with combo gas and restaurant with drive-through or hospitality.”
Seaman told The Courier News last week that he and Moore would be meeting with the Norris Planning Commission this week to go over the plans.
“We have a lot of different options,” he said. “It depends on how the meeting goes. We’ve got a bunch of ideas; we just need to get these approvals.”
He said they have no plans to force either of the current tenants out of the center.
The former supermarket space that takes up most of the building is empty now since TCAT has moved out. Seaman said he believes it would be nice to have another grocer take over that space, since the closest supermarket is in the Walmart about two miles west, across Interstate 75.
Seaman said the site could be lucrative for lots of businesses that could tap into the pool of people driving by on their way to and from Norris Lake, especially those pulling boats.
“It’s a numbers thing,” he said of the financial viability of the revamped center, saying the project depends on whether “we can get the tenants to justify the numbers. We have to have a grocery store, restaurant or gas station to make it work.”
One key to success would be to gain approval of Norris, Anderson County and the Tennessee Department of Transportation to open an entrance for vehicles to the property off Norris Freeway, just south of Andersonville Highway.
The only access now is off of Andersonville Highway or from the adjacent Anderson Crossing center, which houses a variety of businesses, including a pharmacy, Dollar General store, Mexican restaurant, and a pizza restaurant and sports bar.
Seaman, of Powell, is a longtime executive with REA, Inc., in Knoxville, a heating and air-conditioning company. Moore is a real-estate agent with Realty Executives in Knoxville.
The developers are looking for a name for the center, and Seaman has suggested The Shoppes at Lake Norris, The Centre at Norris Lake or Lake Norris Junction as possibilities.
He did acknowledge that they might get some blowback for using “Lake Norris” instead of Norris Lake, but said he believes that name might help draw more interest to the center.
Seaman and Moore have the property under contract to purchase from the current owner, Henley Holdings. No closing date has been set yet, he said Friday.July 1).
