The 30 acre commercial development known as Grassy Creek broke ground Tuesday at the corner of Schaad Rd and Oak Ridge Highway In Knoxville. Developers and several Knox County officials were in attendance to celebrate the groundbreaking.

The $45 million dollar commercial big box development will be anchored by a 50,000-plus-s.f. Food City supermarket, expected to open next spring. The remainder of the development will feature a restaurant, storage facility, and a dozen other retail and commercial sites.

Steve Maddox, president of Maddox Companies, along side investor Joe Hollingsworth, praised Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs and the County Commission for supporting the project with a $2.5 million, Tax Increment Financing (TIF) package. Maddox said , “The development would not have happened without the TIF.”

Also in attendance was president and CEO of Food City, Steven Smith. “We’re excited to have the opportunity to construct a new state-of-the-art Food City on Schaad Road to serve our loyal customers,” said Smith. “They can expect to find the same smiling faces, top quality products and low prices they have come to expect from Food City, along with some great new services and conveniences.”

“Our customers are certainly going to enjoy the expanded variety/selection and exciting new conveniences and services,” said district manager, Barry Brogan.

Mayor Jacobs said the development will meet the demands of a fast-growing section of Knox County. “This area needs more retail and more restaurants.”