Some retail and restaurant chains are expected to soon start renovating existing space or building new locations in East Ellijay.
Larry Callahan, of the East Ellijay code enforcement department, said clothing retailer Marshalls has filed all the necessary paperwork and will start remodeling the retail space in the Old Orchard Square shopping center previously occupied by Black Bear Antiques.
“We don’t know how long they think it’s going to take,” said Callahan about an anticipated opening date.
A Five Below discount store opened in April at the same shopping center and is doing well, Callahan noted.
Further down Highway 515, in the Highlands shopping area, site preparation work is ramping up on the new Piedmont ER and medical offices. The medical complex will be built in the area near Mountain View Drive that is currently being graded.
“They’re (working) full speed on that,” Callahan said.
Interest has been expressed by other businesses about building locations in the same area as the medical complex, but nothing has been confirmed, Callahan noted.
“I think Piedmont is going to be a good anchor for that area,” he added.
Across the highway, ground was recently broken for a new Waffle House that will be going in near Buffalo Luke’s, Callahan noted.
One large-scale project in the Highlands area has run into a setback, Callahan noted. A Marriott Springhill Suites hotel under construction just off Highland Parkway recently experienced some flooding issues on one of the floors, which will add some time to the project.
Callahan said some other chains, which have yet to file any paperwork, have also expressed interest in East Ellijay. One is a national restaurant that’s interested in the former Krystal location, but nothing is official on that yet, he added.