Puckett's to open restaurant next to Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga

A Pucketts restaurant is pictured in this file photo.

Pucketts, the longstanding Nashville-area group of restaurants, plans to take over the space that TGI Fridays had occupied next to the Tennessee Aquarium.

The family-owned restaurant plans to open its first Chattanooga location at 2 Broad Street in spring 2015.

Known for its southern comfort food, Pucketts brand extends back to the 1950s with a small grocery store in the village of Leipers Fork, Tenn. Today, Pucketts Gro. & Restaurant has locations in downtown Franklin, downtown Nashville and downtown Columbia.

Pucketts plans to create a more expansive dining atmosphere in the 6,750-square-foot space on the riverfront, making it conducive to live music. Construction could start as early as December.

Weve been wanting to come to Chattanooga for a couple years now, said Andy Marshall, Pucketts owner. I love what the city is about. I love how active the city is that it has so many good independent operators in one area.

Pucketts makes everything from scratch, including its barbecue, an 18-hour process, Marshall said. It sources from local farms as much as it can, he said.

TGI Fridays had operated downtown from 1993 until late September, when it closed abruptly. The restaurant included more than 200 seats and operated as a franchise before the parent company acquired the location in 1996.

More details in Wednesdays Chattanooga Times Free Press.

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Puckett's to open restaurant next to Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga