Editor’s note: Check out the February edition |
of the Upper Cumberland Business Journal
for more views on the Cookeville Mall Flea Market.

COOKEVILLE – The Cookeville Mall is ready for its
big re-debut as crews have been busy transforming
the former empty space into a different kind of storefront.

The Mall, portions of which have sat vacant for eight years,
will soon open as an indoor flea market. An opening
weekend has been set for Feb. 3-5.

The project, which will be developed in three stages
stretching from the former Peebles store to the current
JC Penney’s outfit, is already underway. Drawings for
phase one include 214 booths in the old Peebles store -
most are 10-by-10, but others measure 8-by-10 or 16-by-10.
Some inside demolition work is required.
http://ucbjournal.com/pdf/cookeville_mall_flea_market_1-17-12.pdf]

In all, the plans call for 600 total booths, which will fill in 126,000 square feet.
Phases two and three will follow in 6-8 week increments after opening weekend.

Johnny Stites, CEO of J&S Construction and co-owner of the building,
says the Cookeville Mall Flea Market, as he calls it, will be a venue for
local crafters to display and sell their wares and skills. He also thinks
the market will have a residual benefit on the community, as visitors patronize
local restaurants, hotels and gas stations.

“My personal goal, and I don’t know if we’ll get there, is to create something
a little more upscale,” Stites said. “We’re hoping to create something that will
use a lot of the Tennessee talent that we have here, and provide a venue for those
people who can’t afford to build a building and have a full-time business.

We believe that there might be a good market for that.

“A lot of people would probably rather we do something else,” Stites added,
 “but unfortunately, with Penney’s lease (which says JC Penney’s must approve
any and all modifications to the mall facility) we just didn’t have that option.”

Read the full story in the Cumberland Business Journal.