Southern Living magazine to feature Chattanooga in November issue

When Southern Living writer Eric Crevar wandered into the Winder Binder folk art gallery in North Chattanooga earlier this month, owner David Smotherman said he chatted him up just like all of the customers who venture into the eclectic gallery and book store.

"I'm just such a talker when it comes to talking about the city and I ended up talking to him for about two hours," Smotherman said.

After discovering Crevar was spending the weekend in Chattanooga doing "research" for an upcoming feature on the city, Smotherman jumped at the chance to tell him about several of his favorite new places that had popped up since the publication's last feature about the city in 2007.

"I think they got a lot of good stuff. They seemed to visit tourist sites, restaurants and nightlife so it looks like they covered what to do in town during the day and after hours," Smotherman said.

According to Chattanooga Convention and Visitor's Bureau marketing & public relations manager, Candace Davis, Crevar "visited places all around Chattanooga" over two weekend visits in June and July.

"We have a great relationship with the magazine and they call us frequently for information on different stories. Alex called me because he wanted to do a story on Chattanooga," Davis said in an email.

Although Smotherman said the conversation he and Crevar had in the store's "living room" during the most recent visit two weeks ago didn't include much talk about the gallery itself, he was thrilled to learn that his shop was included on staff photographer Gary Clark's shot list for the upcoming feature in the November issue of the popular magazine.

Clark is spending three days in Chattanooga this week taking photographs in nine locations including the Hunter Museum, The Incline Railway, the Walnut Street Bridge, Aleia Restaurant, and the Pickle Barrel among others.

While Smotherman and Clark met for the first time on Wednesday afternoon in his store, it wasn't Smotherman's first exchange with the publication.

Smotherman was featured in the magazine back in 2007 after he moved from his original store, Needful Things, into his current location on Frazier Avenue.

"I guess they enjoyed talking with me enough, that they did a whole thing "living downtown and living where you work" angle. They took photos of me in my apartment above the store and the whole North Shore," he said. 

The story was pushed off the schedule for 18 months after it was written and when the editors were getting ready to put it out, much of it had to be rewritten.

"Everything changed, the name of the store, the location, the focus of the store. I went from 1,000 to 3,000 square feet and was now doing folk art," Smotherman said.

But change is constant, especially in Chattanooga and that is part of the reason why the writers keep returning.

“It’s an honor that Southern Living selected Chattanooga for another great article that will reach millions of people. We are the epitome of their magazine – representing a dynamic, vibrant, friendly, hospitable city. It speaks volumes for Chattanooga when these publications seek us out to write stories spotlighting tourism, businesses and individuals. This kind of exposure is tremendous for Chattanooga because it emphasizes all the phenomenal things we have to offer,“ CVB president & CEO Bob Doak said.

Smotherman, another one of those individuals and businesses spotlighted, agrees.

"The good thing is it's not like they are just doing an article about the same thing. There is enough that changes even in just a year or two that makes it worthy of another article. I think that says a lot about Chattanooga and what is going on in this city," he said.