As Southern Burger Company moves closer to its April opening in Ooltewah, owner Christian Siler is starting to think more about the look of the store.
And he recently picked up a decoration from Antique Archaeology—a Nashville store run by one of the stars of the show "American Pickers"—that will be a focal point of the new restaurant.
“I was up there [in Nashville], and I saw this fantastic piece that I thought would just look fabulous,” he said. “I couldn’t help myself. It was a reasonable price.”
For now, Siler said the details about the piece are a surprise, but he said the design of the new restaurant will be unique and Southern.
Southern Burger, which started as the city's first food truck, is expanding into a third location, joining Lupi's in Ooltewah's new mixed-use development project.
The design of the development will be "reminiscent of traditional courthouse squares in smaller towns across the United States," according to Cambridge Square's website.
Siler said the area's growth makes it a good place for his next store.
In 2011, Ooltewah's population was 7,623 people. Since 2000, it has had a population growth of 34.07 percent, according to Nooga.com archives.
“A lot of restaurants have been wanting to get out to Ooltewah for a long time,” Siler said last week of his hometown. “I fell in love with [Cambridge Square]. As my store is under construction, so is the entire square.”
A stage for outdoor entertainment and fountains will add to the atmosphere of the square, Siler said.
The development brings together residential, commercial and retail spaces, and the developers are prioritizing commercial and retail components, according to the Cambridge Square website.
Siler is beginning to think about who will manage the store. He said he has a few ideas, and according to Nooga.com archives, his new restaurant will bring about 10 new employees.
Customers will be able to get the burgers and fries that Siler sells from the truck and the Warehouse Row location.
He will be serving lunch and dinner, and he is going to add more ingredients to some of his burgers.
He will have draft beer, outdoor seating and a grassy area nearby.
Siler said he thinks the area residents are going to like what he’s bringing.
“I feel like I know and love Ooltewah,” he said. “I went to high school there; I have family that lives out there. I feel like they are definitely going to like what we are doing.”
