What businesses would you like to see in Clarksville? From restaurants and retail to manufacturing and health care.
Fatima Choto pours margaritas for a table at Costa Azul Grill & Bar in Clarksville, Tenn., on Wednesday, May 13, 2020.
Employees work to get the operation and interior ready for opening to the general public at Kimo’s Hawaiian Grill in Clarksville, Tenn., on Wednesday, May 13, 2020.
Martin Melendez presents the Charola Costa Azul to the Narajo family at Costa Azul Grill & Bar in Clarksville, Tenn., on Wednesday, May 13, 2020.
An employee walks out of the kitchen area after doing dishes at Kimo’s Hawaiian Grill in Clarksville, Tenn., on Wednesday, May 13, 2020.
A colorfully illustrated hallway in the back of the restaurant leads to the bathrooms from the dining area at Costa Azul Grill & Bar in Clarksville, Tenn., on Wednesday, May 13, 2020.
Luz Amaya takes a table’s order during one of the opening days at Costa Azul Grill & Bar in Clarksville, Tenn., on Wednesday, May 13, 2020.
The back mezzanine area will have a small bar and food serving area for small dishes in addition to the seating at Kimo’s Hawaiian Grill in Clarksville, Tenn., on Wednesday, May 13, 2020.
A small bottle of hand sanitizer sits next to the checkout counter and computer at Costa Azul Grill & Bar in Clarksville, Tenn., on Wednesday, May 13, 2020.
Luz Amaya picks up to margaritas to serve to her table at Costa Azul Grill & Bar in Clarksville, Tenn., on Wednesday, May 13, 2020.
Lightbulbs were replaced with brighter ones to give more shine to the dining room at Kimo’s Hawaiian Grill in Clarksville, Tenn., on Wednesday, May 13, 2020.
Customers sit in booths with brilliantly painted backgrounds at Costa Azul Grill & Bar in Clarksville, Tenn., on Wednesday, May 13, 2020.
Touches are being made to the dining area like new lighting and paint before opening at Kimo’s Hawaiian Grill in Clarksville, Tenn., on Wednesday, May 13, 2020.
Fatima Choto places citrus on the glasses rim for a margarita at Costa Azul Grill & Bar in Clarksville, Tenn., on Wednesday, May 13, 2020.
Touches are being made to the dining area like new lighting and paint before opening at Kimo’s Hawaiian Grill in Clarksville, Tenn., on Wednesday, May 13, 2020.
Employees move in and around the kitchen, upper level, and bar area making small adjustments to the restaurant at Kimo’s Hawaiian Grill in Clarksville, Tenn., on Wednesday, May 13, 2020.
The Charola Costa Azul, an enormous plate of seafood, is presented to a family that ordered it featuring everything from crab to a full fish at Costa Azul Grill & Bar in Clarksville, Tenn., on Wednesday, May 13, 2020.
Martin Melendez rearranges hot sauces along the bar’s surface at Costa Azul Grill & Bar in Clarksville, Tenn., on Wednesday, May 13, 2020.
A temporary logo in the street-facing window advertises the new restaurant location at Kimo’s Hawaiian Grill in Clarksville, Tenn., on Wednesday, May 13, 2020.
Various tequila bottles line the back of the bar in front of a painted waterfall scene at Costa Azul Grill & Bar in Clarksville, Tenn., on Wednesday, May 13, 2020.
A taped up picture on the wall illustrates the family that started the restaurant at Costa Azul Grill & Bar in Clarksville, Tenn., on Wednesday, May 13, 2020.
20/20 SLIDES
I’d like to hear from you. Send me an email or reach out on social media.
I recently wrote about new chain restaurants heading to the Clarksville Commons shopping center on Madison Street. We also discovered the former Demos’ restaurant building off Wilma Rudolph Boulevard has been sold.
Any business development during a pandemic is great news. It shows that someone out there is still willing to invest in our community.
Once all of this is over, we’ll get back to full-scale business activity — and for Clarksville, “full-scale” will likely mean “big” and “robust.”
In December, we learned through the Clarksville Building Codes Department that Panda Express and Chipotle Mexican Grill are coming to the Clarksville Commons outlet, next to Wendy’s.
This shopping center is remembered by local residents as the former Madison Street Kmart location. It has received a makeover, including the addition of several discount outlet stores.
Load Error
David Smith, Clarksville’s Building Codes director, said Panda Express has received its building permit for Clarksville Commons, while Chipotle has submitted construction plans to city officials.
They will be fronting the new Marshalls, Ross, Burke’s Outlet, Rack Room Shoes and Planet Fitness. The shopping center has been redeveloped and reinvigorated by the Chattanooga firm, Rise Partners.
This will be the second Clarksville location for Panda Express and Chipotle. Panda Express has a restaurant at 3073 Wilma Rudolph Blvd., and Chipotle can also be found at 625 Kennedy Lane — both near Interstate 24, Exit 4.
There has also been talk of a second Clarksville Panera Bread location. But at this point, it’s just talk.
Some residents sit on a bench waiting for their to-go order to arrive while others walk out of their car to speak with a server at Blackhorse Pub & Brewery in Clarksville, Tenn., on Monday, April 27, 2020.
A patron fills out their receipt while picking up a to-go order at Strawberry Alley Ale Works in Clarksville, Tenn., on Monday, April 27, 2020.
Von Tyson, having now split a broken skateboard into fourths, balances and rides down Strawberry Alley mimicking roller skates at Kloud-27 Skateboard Supply in Clarksville, Tenn., on Monday, April 27, 2020.
Patrons walk past the advertisement sign with a to-go order from Blackhorse Pub & Brewery in Clarksville, Tenn., on Monday, April 27, 2020.
Manager Leah McCarty, left, laughs with event coordinator Jamie Burney during their “rush” period in the early evening at Strawberry Alley Ale Works in Clarksville, Tenn., on Monday, April 27, 2020.
Patrons grab food ordered ahead of time at Blackhorse Pub & Brewery in Clarksville, Tenn., on Monday, April 27, 2020.
Residents meet and discuss outside on the plaza at the Montgomery County Historic Courthouse in Clarksville, Tenn., on Monday, April 27, 2020.
Von Tyson, owner of Kloud-27, practices balancing on half of a skateboard that finally broke after many months of use at Kloud-27 Skateboard Supply in Clarksville, Tenn., on Monday, April 27, 2020.
Residents walk down Franklin Street as a patron enters Blackhorse Pub & Brewery in Clarksville, Tenn., on Monday, April 27, 2020.
Patrons walk down Strawberry Alley after picking up a to-go order at Strawberry Alley Ale Works in Clarksville, Tenn., on Monday, April 27, 2020.
Jamie Burney, event coordinator, enters a phoned-in pickup order at Strawberry Alley Ale Works in Clarksville, Tenn., on Monday, April 27, 2020.
Von Tyson practices balancing on his fourth of a skateboard outside the shop he’s run since 2015 at Kloud-27 Skateboard Supply in Clarksville, Tenn., on Monday, April 27, 2020.
A patron approaches and leans against the window getting their growler refilled at Strawberry Alley Ale Works in Clarksville, Tenn., on Monday, April 27, 2020.
A patron exits the front door after placing their order at Blackhorse Pub & Brewery in Clarksville, Tenn., on Monday, April 27, 2020.
A label on the tip jar notes all will go towards employee’s laid off during limited service at Strawberry Alley Ale Works in Clarksville, Tenn., on Monday, April 27, 2020.
Von Tyson, right, owner of Kloud-27, and his friend Jayden Johnson, left, sit outside during business hours at Kloud-27 Skateboard Supply in Clarksville, Tenn., on Monday, April 27, 2020.
Tables empty and chairs flipped in the side room also serve as storage during limited service time at Strawberry Alley Ale Works in Clarksville, Tenn., on Monday, April 27, 2020.
17/17 SLIDES
Months ago, there were indications through the Regional Planning Commission that Panera, currently with a location near Exit 4, would also join Clarksville Commons with a second store, but for now, Smith said Panera is “off the radar.”
Across town, Demos’ will become Drake’s restaurant sometime during the first half of this year. The new eatery will reside in the currently vacant building at 120 S. Hampton Place, next to Buffalo Wild Wings and across from the Kohl’s shopping center.
Smith said Drake’s — part of Bluegrass Hospitality Group, headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky — has a $1.2 million permit to renovate the restaurant structure that was originally built a few years ago for the well-known middle Tennessee restaurant chain, Demos’.
Drake’s specializes in a selection of steaks, burgers and sandwiches, fish, chicken, quesadillas, salads, sushi and more. Its drink menu is highlighted by craft beers and cocktails. Currently, the Drake’s location closest to Clarksville is in Franklin’s Cool Springs.
On top of all of this, grocery wars continue. Publix is further staking its claim in our market, recently confirming plans to construct a fourth Clarksville grocery store at the southwest corner of 101st Airborne Division Parkway and Trenton Road. The company has executed a lease for that location.
Clarksville is priming itself for much more retail development, even amid the COVID outbreak. We’re seeing development fill in areas of the city limits that have sat vacant, and that is what retail investors want to see. They want that population density that, for them, equates to future clientele.
They also want the household disposable income to be there, and according to the Clarksville-Montgomery County Economic Development Council, our average household, and average personal incomes in Clarksville remain on the rise — slowly, but steadily.
The average, annual personal income figure for Montgomery County is now at $43,028. The average median household income now stands at $56,948.
Our countywide population is heading toward the 250,000 mark. Opinions on what stores and restaurants we need in Clarksville may double that figure.
Don’t forget to tell me what businesses you would like to see in Clarksville’s future? Also, where should they be located? Let me know. Happy shopping!