Good morning, Cookeville.

Welcome to the first issue of The Cookeville Cardinal.

Every two weeks, this email brings you the most interesting things happening around town — new businesses, development updates, local events, and the kind of intel you'd normally have to piece together from five different Facebook groups.

Grab a coffee from Poet’s, Exceptional Bean, Soul Craft, or Longhorn Coffee Bar and let’s get into it.

If you’ve driven past South Willow and I-40, you’ve seen the construction.

Here’s what’s coming:

• $60M retail development
• 40 acres
• Anchored by Target + Home Depot
• Opening target: October 2026

Restaurant outparcels are already generating buzz.

Rumored tenants include:

• In-N-Out Burger (reported by Upper Cumberland Business Journal)
• Whataburger
• Chuy’s

Across the street, RaceTrac purchased 10.5 acres for $4M, likely for a major convenience store.

The project is expected to create 350–400 jobs and generate millions in sales tax revenue.

Cardinal take:
This will completely reshape the south side of Cookeville and the I-40 corridor. The real question: what happens to traffic on South Willow?

Cookeville’s Waterfalls For All initiative landed on the cover of the 2026 Tennessee Vacation Guide alongside Dolly Parton.

The state tourism department is officially marketing Cookeville as a destination.

With 150+ waterfalls within 40 miles, the “America’s Waterfall Capital” brand is catching on.

1️⃣ Downtown land purchase
The city bought 5 acres near Depot St. and Cedar Ave.
Possible plans include parking, green space, a hotel, and retail.

2️⃣ Cane Creek Park expansion
The park is adding 30+ acres, including a public food forest where anyone can harvest fruit.

3️⃣ Tennessee Tech recognition
Tech received an NSA national cybersecurity research designation, putting it among top programs in the country.

4️⃣ Two new fire stations
New 16,000+ sq ft stations are replacing aging facilities.

5️⃣ Baxter wants a grocery store
Talks are underway with Food City and Kroger as the town prepares for 1,000+ new homes.

Pie Festival
Cookeville Fairgrounds — Saturday, 10 AM

WestSide Photo Scavenger Hunt
Depot Museum — Saturday, 10:30–2:30

Live music at Mean Mel’s
Cookeville’s newest music venue

Sunday idea:
Check out Cummins Falls overlook trail.
After the storms this week, the waterfalls are running strong.

The Little Mermaid Jr.
Cookeville Performing Arts Center — Thursday

Natasha Evans live
37 Cedar Restaurant & Bar — Thursday

Mean Mel’s live shows
Friday night

Cookeville’s Largest Yard Sale
Putnam County Fairgrounds — Saturday

Major projects happening now:

• The Willows retail development
• South Jefferson widening to 5 lanes
• West Stevens Street upgrades
• Cookeville Performing Arts Center renovation
• CRMC $60M rehab hospital
• New Putnam County Fairgrounds
• Rail-Trail extension to Cane Creek Park

Question for readers:

Is Cookeville growing too fast… or not fast enough?

Reply and tell us what you think.
Best responses will be featured in the next issue.

Fifteen years ago someone started a Facebook page called:

“I Want a Target in Cookeville.”

After 15 years of posts and waiting…

…it’s finally happening.

That’s Cookeville.

Things take a while here.
But when they happen, they tend to happen all at once.

See you in next week.

Noah
Publisher, The Cookeville Cardinal