Depending on your point of view, Turkey Creek is either East Tennessee’s retail dream or a very sprawl-filled type of nightmare. Turkey Creek is a shopping district, mixed-use commercial development and is often referred to by Knoxvillians as the local Mecca of shopping. When it comes to retail, Turkey Creek is the measuring stick by which all other developments will be judged.
Turkey Creek owes its ginormous existence to a group of developers called Turkey Creek Land Partners, who purchased a $7 million, 400-plus acre plot of land near the crossroads of Kingston Pike and Lovell Road. Millions of dollars of development and plenty of controversy over building on a 22-acre wetland area later, and the Turkey Creek Development — Knox County’s largest commercial venture ever — was born.
Turkey Creek is located in West Knoxville, near Farragut and roughly three miles from the junction of Interstate 40 and Interstate 75. It is located on Parkside Drive, and can be reached from both Lovell Road and N. Campbell Station Road. Turkey Creek includes several developments, including Pavilions at Turkey Creek, Colonial Promenade Turkey Creek and Colonial Pinnacle Lifestyle Center.
Turkey Creek is simply enormous. It can probably be seen from space and, with good enough binoculars, Nashville or Atlanta. More than 300 acres is zoned for retail shopping, medical facilities, theaters, restaurants, hotels, banks and office space. More than 50 acres are allotted for nature preserves and greenways.
Turkey Creek is new in feel. Anchor stores didn’t open until after 2000. A large number of the stores have opened since 2003.
Turkey Creek is anchored by stores like Super Walmart, Super Target, Borders Bookstore, Belk, World Market, Best Buy and the 18-screen Regal Pinnacle Stadium 18 & IMAX.
But, really, keeping track of all the shops, restaurants and cafes here would be practically impossible. It’s hardly unusual to spot a new store popping up in one corner or another. And the shopping diversity is both impressive and enough to keep you busy for several weeks. There are lots of chains and plenty of specialty stores.
You’ll find liquor, used cars, pianos and organs, furniture, beds, religious fare, clothing, shoes, accessories, big screen TVs, home furnishings, pet supplies, office supplies, health products, organic groceries, mobile phones, videogame systems, air purifiers, closet organizers, jewelry and stuff for less than a buck. Once you’ve worked up an appetite, you can chow down on burgers, seafood, pizza, ice cream, Italian food, ribs, coffee, steaks, burritos or chicken sandwiches.
If shopping isn’t your thing, walk your dog on the nearby greenway and hope the nearby shopocolypse doesn’t consume you.
© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Comments » 1
gloryglory747 writes:
Well said once again, leaving me with little to say on this shopping experience. I came, I saw, I shopped till I dropped, and the day became night.
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