MONROE COUNTY, Tenn — Charlie Hall's Grocery has been open since 1965. Early last year, 10News visited the store for our Hometown Hidden Gems. Owner Charlie Hall has known about the development for years. Now, TDOT said they plan to start construction next Summer.
Hall said the store is like a big family. He's raised his family there and has gotten close with regulars over the years.
"I started out with the grocery store and all these big stores came and made me make a change and I put a deli in it and it's one of the best moves I made. I put two boys through college. This store, it's been great to me. It's a landmark," Hall said.
He said the store is almost always busy. According to Hall, they serve about 150 to 200 people every day. With the project to expand Route 322 in the works, employees and customers might be left without what they call their "second home."
"It's not just our family. Everybody's family. We know their names. We know what they're going to order. It's just home," Jennifer Hall said. She's Charlie Hall's daughter-in-law and a 22-year employee.
For regulars like Chad Chambers, he's been eating at the store his whole life. He said his son has followed in his footsteps and he's sad it won't continue.
"The store means people that you care about, people in the community that you interact with every day. It's a special place where you can come and have friends and eat good food. People you can always count on," Chambers said.
Charlie Hall said the reaction from locals has solidified how they see the store.
"Most people want me to build another one. I've got five acres on behind me here and we told them last time we don't know what we're going to do. They have to offer us something before we know," he said.
TDOT's spokesperson Mark Nagi said he doesn't know what the next steps are but their website states after appraisal comes acquisition. TDOT will work with Hall to reach an appropriate amount for the property. If they can't agree, TDOT will start the eminent domain process.