Putnam County and Cookeville officials celebrated the one-year anniversary of the groundbreaking of the Shoppes at Eagle Point development Wednesday.
Cookeville Mayor Ricky Shelton says it’s great to finally see what was once an empty lot finally being used.
“For many years, this land represented untapped potential to many Cookevillians,” Shelton says. “The question was always ‘what’s it going to take to get that property developed?’ Well, we know the answer, five years later, is a relentless commitment and perseverance by all parties… and quite a bit of money too, I think.”
Putnam County Executive Randy Porter says having the Shoppes being fully-functional now will be a vital asset in attracting new business to the area.
“Expanding our retail in Cookeville and Putnam County is critical to our local economic development and economic environment,” Porter says. “New retail opportunities like this one opens up the [doors] for our economic development team to go after new companies and different companies in our recruiting efforts.”
Shelton says he’s happy to see more and more stores announce grand-opening dates and set up shop at the Eagle Point facility.
“This development represents an infusion of new market retail that will help our citizens stay at home, shop, and spend their money here in Cookeville,” Shelton says. “The addition of the stores you see here, as well as the stores yet to open or be announced, represent an estimated $2.4 million that have, to this point, been spent elsewhere.”
Shelton says the Eagle Point location will make an impact on the community by attracting citizens from across the Upper Cumberland while generating revenue for the community.
“This project will have an incredible impact on the growing community. Sales tax revenue paves the roads picks up the trash, and keeps property taxes low,” Shelton says. “I have to commend our staff at the City of Cookeville for their tremendous work on this project… Our economic development teams goes far beyond any one group. I believe teamwork on the local level will make us an attractive and viable market.”
The Shoppes at Eagle Point originally broke ground Nov. 14, 2017 and opened Aug. 29 with the addition of Publix.
Since then, several new retailers like PetSmart, Five Below, Academy Sports and Outdoors, and Shoe Carnival have opened their doors, to name a few. Other businesses within Cookeville, such as Spectrum and Baskin Robbins, announced plans over the summer to relocate to the Eagle Point property.
Panda Express will be the first restaurant to open on the Eagle Point property Nov. 14, exactly one year after the property’s groundbreaking.
