Jul 30, 2020
Get to Know the MLK Neighborhood: Grass Roots Edition
Grass Roots Health’s original location on Martin Luther King Boulevard in downtown Chattanooga has always felt like home. We serve a broad range of customers and we welcome everyone to come visit not just our shop but the vibrant neighborhood and businesses around us.
The MLK Neighborhood has a long legacy of locally owned businesses. We’re excited to join in that legacy by celebrating and supporting our neighboring businesses — we hope you’ll like them as much as we do!
Play
Whether you run, bike, or skip, enjoy the sidewalks and bike lanes on MLK that connect us to Chattanooga’s city center. Rent a Bike Chattanooga for the day so you can cruise and enjoy MLK and its surrounding neighborhoods. We’re close to UTC and greenways that wind through campus.
In non-pandemic times, the Bessie Smith Cultural Center often hosted events, including live music performances on the lawn that always got everyone out (and dancing)! A few blocks further, bring your lunch to Miller Park and Plaza, home to the Nightfall music series (which offered virtual shows this year — we are hoping for a normal schedule in 2021!), as well as farmers markets, festivals, movies, and city-wide workouts.
Shop
Stop in the Partnership for Families, Children and Adults’ Cause Cloth Thrift and Boutique, where you can find gently used name-brand and new boutique clothing.
In addition to searching for good finds, Grass Roots Owner and Founder Elisha Millan says she enjoys seeing someone else finding a bag or item that brings them joy. All proceeds support the Partnership programs. Check the Cause Cloth Facebook page for sales and styles!
Eat
PROOF Bar & Incubator opened this spring to serve as a launch pad for food and beverage professionals. Hosting restaurateurs including Lil Oso, Neutral Ground, and Poppytons Patisserie, you can find a bite to eat, a drink to sip, or a live performance or poetry slam on the outdoor patio.
Chatt Smoke House down MLK has a brisket plate worth drooling over. We think you’ll agree! Memo’s, another barbecue restaurant, is a delicious, homey spot that makes everyone feel welcome.
Mr. Burrito Grill is a favorite spot for college students and people in the MLK neighborhood. Mr. Burrito offers late night hours, which is popular with students at UTC.
Drink
The MLK Neighborhood has a mix of bars — we’re big fans of the Coin-Op Arcade, Bitter Alibi, and Barley around the corner from our shop. Also be sure to check out OddStory Brewing and Hutton & Smith Brewing Company for fresh local brews.
Ready to come by the Grass Roots shops? Check out our COVID-19 policies. We also offer curbside services and free shipping for orders of $50 or more. Shop online or give us a call for concierge services and recommendations.