J. Crew opens at Warehouse Row

Angie Jordan, Shopper said, "We closed our office upstairs to come down for the opening, but only for a few minutes. But we love it. We are totally excited. We think its awesome and it’s a beautiful store." J.Crew officially opened in Warehouse Row Wednesday morning with customers waiting to get through the check out line right after the doors opened. Cheri Thomas, Shopper said, "We are very excited that J.Crew is coming on board at Warehouse Row. We’ve watched them preparing the store and getting ready, its amazing what they have done with it. Its really beautiful."

The 48-hundred square foot store took roughly three months to renovate with the store front facing Market Street. The national brand named store marks the first time since the 1930’s that a premier retailer has set up shop in downtown Chattanooga. Blaire Mard, River City Company Retail Recruiter said, "Chattanooga retail kind of went through a renaissance period. Kind of in the 1980’s when things kind of left to the suburbs we were left with a lot of vacant retail space in downtown. But now with more excitement coming with Urban planning and urban development, with people wanting to live downtown, it’s natural that things like shops coming back downtown."

J.Crew could be the first of many retailers to move into the downtown. Mard said, "J.Crew is going to be a catalyst for a lot of new retailers to come into the market which is very exciting. And as more people live downtown and work downtown its going to become even more exciting to be downtown."

Warehouse Row representatives expect a great deal of growth and activity over the next several months.