Chattanooga Times Free Press

Twin Peaks restaurant coming to East Ridge

- BY DAVE FLESSNER STAFF WRITER

East Ridge will soon be home to a Twin Peaks restaurant.

Constructi­on is scheduled to begin this week at the Jordan Crossing developmen­t near Camp Jordan on the newest sports-themed restaurant known as Twin Peaks, a sports bar built with a lodge decor that features wall-to-wall sporting events displayed on multiple TV screens.

The Atlanta-based franchise developer for Twin Peaks — La Cima Restaurant­s LLC — plans to open the 350-seat restaurant and sports bar in January along Camp Jordan Road near Bass Pro Shops and Topgolf.

“We have always loved the growth and outlook of Chattanoog­a and have been searching for the right site for a while,” James Porcello, vice president of operations and a partner in La Cima Restaurant­s, said in an emailed statement about the new East Ridge location.

Porcello said the 10,700-squarefoot lodge should open with about 125 employees and will be the 16th Twin Peaks location for his company.

The new restaurant will be the third Twin Peaks in Tennessee and among more than 90 “lodges” that the Texas-based restaurant or its franchisee­s have opened since it began in 2005. One of the nation’s hottest sportsthem­ed restaurant chains, Twin Peaks is billed as the “ultimate sports lodge” and “man cave.”

The company said it features madefrom-scratch food and a variety of beers and drinks.

Restaurant­s are usually decorated in the theme of a wilderness lodge and serve a mix of American, Southwest and Southern cuisines, as well as alcohol. The chain’s slogan is “Eats. Drinks. Scenic Views.”

A Twin Peaks opened in Brentwood, Tennessee, a decade ago and the chain expanded to Knoxville about six years ago. Twin Peaks, which was acquired

last year by Fat Brands for $300 million, is now aggressive­ly expanding around the U.S. and Mexico.

“We look forward to building upon their strong developmen­t pipeline to deliver the iconic Twin Peaks experience to even more guests across the globe,” Fat Brands CEO Andy Wiederhorn said in a statement after buying the chain.

The restaurant theme is similar to that of Hooters, which operates a local restaurant on Brainerd Road. Similar chains include Redneck Heaven, Tilted Kilt Pub & Eatery, Bombshells, Bone Daddy’s, Ojos Locos, Chula’s, Bikinis Sports Bar & Grill, Big Racks, Show-Me’s, Mugs & Jugs and WingHouse Bar & Grill.

Twin Peaks is the latest addition in the growing Jordan Crossing developmen­t in East Ridge that is anchored by the Bass Pro Shops that opened in 2016. With the opening this week of Pizza Bros, the 50-acre developmen­t already includes a half dozen restaurant­s serving a variety of tastes.

“This will probably be our last full-service restaurant, and we intend to make some other major announceme­nts this summer,” said John Healy, a partner in Wolftever Developmen­t LLC, which developed Jordan Crossing. “We just think with the traffic we have to this area and the success that our existing tenants are having, this is a great addition. We have only 6 acres left, and when built out, Jordan Crossing will end up eclipsing $100 million of investment.”

Healy said the prime location along Interstate 75 and the entrance to Tennessee attracts local residents from throughout the Chattanoog­a area as well as many of the millions of motorists who travel each year along one of the busiest north-south interstate corridors.

“It’s been successful for the same reason that it attracted the most hotel rooms of any I-75 exit 40 years ago,” Healy said. “This a great location and is easy to get around anywhere in Chattanoog­a.”

 ?? STAFF PHOTO BY DAVE FLESSNER ?? A sign shows undevelope­d sites left on Tuesday in the Jordan Crossing developmen­t next to Bass Pro Shops and Topgolf along Camp Jordan Road in East Ridge.
STAFF PHOTO BY DAVE FLESSNER A sign shows undevelope­d sites left on Tuesday in the Jordan Crossing developmen­t next to Bass Pro Shops and Topgolf along Camp Jordan Road in East Ridge.
 ?? ?? John Healy
John Healy

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