MARYVILLE, Tenn. — Downtown Maryville has about 22 businesses in the books, and all those businesses are in different phases. Some businesses are in their planning stages and others are already under construction.
Jeff Muir, the communications director of the Blount Partnership, said the businesses in downtown Maryville tend to go through phases. Back in the 1950s and 1960s, it was a bustling area, but then things slowed down. Now, investors are bringing in more money for new businesses.
James Tomiczek, a developer with Vision Property Services, said these 22 businesses are all in Blount County.
"I was really surprised by that," he said. "That's a lot of activity. That's a lot of money being invested right now in downtown Maryville.”
Tomiczek estimated that around $22 million could go into the businesses if each project received around $1 million in investment.
"But it's going to be higher than that when you start adding $6 million projects," Tomiczek said. "And there are several that are much higher than the $6 million as well that are being looked at.”
Tomiczek has three projects currently in development. Just one of them is costing around $6 million. He is calling it the William Bennett Scott Building. He said the ground floor has a traditional commercial, street-facing space for businesses. Then, in the mid-level of the building, there are residential spaces.
He said the top floors are also condominiums and it will have a rooftop overseeing Broadway. He estimated it to be ready by fall 2024.
With some businesses in construction, some in design and some just moving their business to the downtown area — the community is expected to grow.
"That opens up new job opportunities, especially in the restaurant for servers, cooks and people that work in the hospitality side of things," Muir said. "But also, especially on the residential side, it gives people an opportunity to own property downtown — make their own investment in downtown.”
Downtown workers like William Oakes, who works in the area, said there is a benefit.
"We’re really excited as far as hospitality goes," Oakes said. "We look to be able to reach out and have everybody in. It’s a very big space in there. We have a lot of beer and food to serve, and we’re looking forward to seeing more people coming in."
What now looks like an empty street now may soon enough become the heart of the party.