Chattanooga now has The Cheesecake Factory, can Huntsville support one? (Madison: sales, hotels)

[David1502]

Huntsville and Chattanooga are virtually the same size - Madison County, AL has an estimated 2017 population of 361,000 and Hamilton County, TN has an estimated 2105 population 0f 354,000. In early December, The Cheesecake Factory opened a restaurant as part of the redevelopment of Hamilton Place Mall (in the former Sears location).


The reply to the local question of "Why doesn't The Cheesecake Factory open a restaurant in Huntsville?" has been, "Huntsville doesn't have a big enough population to support one." Now, that Chattanooga has been determined to be big enough, will Huntsville be next?


Perhaps, they will choose to locate one of their famous restaurants in Huntsville, but there are some significant differences in the economies of Huntsville and Chattanooga which could be factors in preventing that from happening. Chattanooga gets a large number of tourists traveling from the Midwest to Florida and many choose to stop and see their many attractions - Rock City, Ruby Falls, the Aquarium, etc. While Huntsville has visitors to the Space & Rocket Center, the numbers pale in comparison to those Chattanooga receives. Also, Huntsville/Madison County has higher median income household income numbers, Chattanooga apparently has more super high end households who spend a lot as evidenced by the number of high end retailers and exclusive private schools that have been there for a long time.


The average Cheesecake Factory does $10 million in sales a year. This figure is achieved by customers spending more as the average check is over $21 per person. Considering the large number of new restaurants announced to be opening around Huntsville in 2019, it is questionable if there is an extra roughly $10 million in dining spending to be absorbed in this area. If they do choose to locate in the HSV area, Bridge Street would be the most likely option (with the presence of three hotels loaded with business travelers) and the empty ToysRUs building provides an already built location, followed by Mid City Huntsville and City Center. Proximity to business travelers and local companies will be essential and Bridge Street has the advantage as it is a stones throw from the offices in Research Park and Redstone Arsenal.


Anyway, the excuse of Huntsville not having nearly enough population to support The Cheesecake Factory has been laid to rest with the Chattanooga and Knoxville locations.

[AU HSV]

Good info
How many locals would go more than once in a month?
Are these newer stores smaller versions or scaled back?
If Huntsville continues on its current growth path cheesecake
Will come. In the meantime go to Costco and get one!

[bmrisko]

Yay, another sub-par chain restaurant. I've never understood the allure of TCF. I will say that Chattanooga's restaurant scene in general absolutely kills the dining options here in HSV.

[TN2HSV]

Chattanooga also has 2 interstates running through it. (well, I-24 ends there but still)

And you're correct....Chattanooga has 3 Randolph Equivalents.....Baylor, McCallie & GPS (Girls Prep. School). Plus numerous others more in line with Madison Academy, in terms of tuition costs.

HSV may be approximately the same size as Chattanooga, but Chattanooga has been that size for a lot longer than we have. Not like they were small and growing at a the same pace as us.

[AU HSV]

If you compare metro populations the demographics shift
strongly to our Tennessee neighbors. Huntsville’s metro is way too small with just
two counties.

[StealthRabbit]

demographics of these communities is FAR different, especially visitor / eating out stats.

I would expect a TCF could survive in Huntsville (As one does in Palm Desert, 48k pop.)

I have never been (looked at the menu ONCE... took a pass... steep prices and limited offerings). And a huge waiting LINE.

Krispy Kreme, never tried it...

[RocketDawg]

Originally Posted by bmrisko

Yay, another sub-par chain restaurant. I've never understood the allure of TCF. I will say that Chattanooga's restaurant scene in general absolutely kills the dining options here in HSV.

It's simple - they have three interstate highways with lots of thru traffic that often stops; we don't have one (565 is essentially for local traffic).

[RocketDawg]

Originally Posted by AU HSV

If you compare metro populations the demographics shift
strongly to our Tennessee neighbors. Huntsville’s metro is way too small with just
two counties.

It's not that much different. Huntsville's metro is about 455K in 2 counties and about 1400 sq miles; Chattanooga is 547K in 6 counties in a much larger area. Throw in Morgan County, which it should be, and Huntsville would actually be larger. It's because of the interstate highways there and easy access.

Chattanooga is growing too, and it was stagnant for a long time. Somebody's doing something right there. And they have some great natural attractions that you can't compete with, but they also have some really nice "built" things, like the aquarium. It's a pretty nice town. Tennessee in general is doing something right.

[bmrisko]

Originally Posted by RocketDawg

It's simple - they have three interstate highways with lots of thru traffic that often stops; we don't have one (565 is essentially for local traffic).

I lived in Chattanooga for 5 years in the late 2000s. Tourism was booming back then and has only increased. It really is an amazing town, especially compared to the industrial slum it used to be years ago and they did a great job incorporating the river into the town. We still try to get back every couple months or so.

[RocketDawg]

Originally Posted by bmrisko

I lived in Chattanooga for 5 years in the late 2000s. Tourism was booming back then and has only increased. It really is an amazing town, especially compared to the industrial slum it used to be years ago and they did a great job incorporating the river into the town. We still try to get back every couple months or so.

It's also a well-known town that's been around a while. Everybody's heard of the Chattanooga Choo-choo. I've been seeing "See Rock City" on barn roofs all my life.

Huntsville is a relative new kid on the block, and a lot of people have either never heard of it, or have no idea where it is even if they have heard of it.

Huntsville would likely be better served by Interstate highways, passenger trains, etc., if it had come along a few years earlier, before the Interstate highway system was laid out. It was a tiny town then though.