Our next visit (Kingsport, Franklin, Bristol: home, tenant, university)

[Cougargm]

Happy Easter to all!

Later this week we'll be making our third trek to the tri-cities. While we'll be combining pleasure (Bays Mtn., Warriors Path, etc) with business (lot viewing) we'd like to see more of the 'central areas' (frequented by residents) of the three cities. We've seen the exit 7 area off of rte 81 by Bristol and have seen the JC Mall/ Roan/ State of Franklin areas as well as downtown in JC. Are there any other areas in either of those two cities that are geared more towards residents and not visitors that we should see? As for Kingsport, I remember driving along both Rte 11 and rte 36 (where the mall and DB HS are located) and a little of the dowtown. It sounds as if there's been major growth in Kingsport since last year (Pavillion and downtown) and we'd appreciate specifics as to what to look at there (street names a plus!).
Thanks in advance. Looking forward to what's become our annual spring fling

[DubbleT]

Not sure how touristy it might be considered but my daughter and I just spent a pleasant afternoon wandering around downtown Bristol. If my daughter had allowed me to go into all of the antique shops I think we would have been there muuuuuch longer. LOL
We ate at the Burger Bar, my daughter described it as looking like a real dive, but the food was home made tasting and it was cheap, worth a repeat visit.
We are going back tomorrow to visit a bakery we spotted and to try one of the little bar and grills for lunch.

[jabogitlu]

As far as JC goes, those two areas you described (Mall/Roan and State of Franklin aka North, and downtown) are about it. I'm sure you drove up from downtown to the University Parkway area around ETSU. If you follow that road out toward I-26 (aka going toward Elizabethton) you will find a bit more city area. It's also accessible from S Roan St, just stay on Roan as it goes through downtown.

[mbmouse]

As for Kingsport you can go up (and or down) East Center St, Broad St, and Main St. Lots of new stuff and goings on on all three. Oh, and you will have to bring the kids to Discovery Ice Cream on Broad, local place and they will love getting their ice cream from a robot! Ummm, wait you said next week, they may not be open for the season yet...I'll have to check on that for ya. If you want to go just out of downtown and check out Eastman Drive along the stone drive end. Then take a right onto Stone go several miles and see the new Kingsport Pavilion and such.
If you get a chance to stop by again and say hello, that would be nice. But you'll have to DM me, we have moved into a bigger office since your last trip.

[leonard]

Any roller skating rinks in the area?

[jabogitlu]

There's one in JC on South Franklin, between downtown and ETSU. I think there is at least one in Kingsport but I'm not sure where.

[rccrain]

Is the one in Bristol behind Kmart still open?

[kamoshika]

Originally Posted by rccrain

Is the one in Bristol behind Kmart still open?

Yes, Skate Inn is still open.

Skate City, the only rink in Kingsport, closed last year and was sold to a developer.

[Ripshin]

I would imagine that you'd rather see something besides malls and chain restaurants, no?

[jabogitlu]

Buttttt, most of us do our everyday living in those spaces. If I were investigating a city a central tenant of my search would be the city center.