Grocer will anchor development's commercial district
By RACHEL STULTS
Staff Writer
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FRANKLIN — Harris Teeter grocery store is the newest tenant heading into the Westhaven community off Highway 96 West in Franklin, developer Southern Land Co. announced Friday.
The store, which will be more than 48,000 square feet and one of the town center's anchor tenants, is expected to open in summer 2009.
"We targeted Harris Teeter early on because as we researched and spoke with different grocers it became apparent quickly that Harris Teeter was the right grocer for Westhaven," said Creighton Wright, vice president of mixed-use development for Southern Land Co. "Their slogan is 'Your Neighborhood Food Market,' and Westhaven is all about a sense of community and neighborhood."
Rumors have been buzzing for months about which grocery store would be part of the community's town center. This will be the only Harris Teeter in Franklin.
"We're providing amenities and services to the residents of Westhaven, but Westhaven Town center is a regional development," Wright said. "We're also excited for the surrounding communities and residents — we're really positioning Westhaven Town Center as the west Franklin town center."
Conceptual Rendering of Harris Teeter
It's a perfect fit
Holly Winn, a Westhaven resident who says hers was one of the "founding families" of the community, said she has been looking forward to having a grocery store in the town center since before her house was built.
"We have a 2½-year-old son, and having a small child it's going to make it a whole lot easier to run down the street and do the shopping," Winn said.
Winn particularly was happy to hear that the grocery planned was a Harris Teeter.
"They fit better with this whole concept of Westhaven and the whole neighborhood concept," she said. "But it's not our grocery store — it's going to have to be supported by this whole west Franklin community if it's going to be successful."
Lisa Smith, who has lived in Leiper's Fork for the past year and a half after moving from her home in Westhaven, said grocery shopping is an inconvenient task in the country. A new grocery store that will be miles closer to their home is something Smith can't wait to see.
"When we're in town or Cool Springs we have to go straight home with all the meat and dairy," Smith said. "This will be so convenient, and we won't have to plan around (grocery shopping.)"
More to come
Harris Teeter is the fifth tenant to lease space in Westhaven Town Center. Vanderbilt medical offices, Regions Bank, Sara Northcutt Dentistry and the Westhaven Pharmacy were announced for the community earlier this year.
Wright anticipates the announcement will be a draw for other potential tenants.
"I have to believe that we're just at the beginning of the true momentum of what will happen in this town center," Wright said.
Construction of the Harris Teeter is scheduled for 2008, after infrastructure, roads and parking lots have been completed. Once completed, Westhaven Town Center will contain nearly 250,000 square feet of commercial space and up to 50 residential units.