Publix...Why not Manchester!?!?!

(Disclaimer: Tullahoma is full of great people and great businesses, so is Manchester and I try to support both communities because both have been GREAT to me and my real estate business and this is just a basic opinion on the logic of investors and their thinking and nothing more)

Did you hear???? Tullahoma is getting a Publix. Why do they get more commercial development than Manchester (cough…Publix, Movies, Mall, Shopping….cough)? While I am not an expert at all, this is the reason that has been explained to me by investors who make those calls. First of all Tullahoma has a higher population than Manchester. Manchester was 10,617 and Tullahoma was 19,273 at last count. The second thing is you have to look at where they pull from or who will drive to this new business. Tullahoma pulls from Winchester, Decherd, Estill Springs, Lynchburg, Fayetteville, Manchester, Normandy, Wartrace and others. THis is why they get more of the franchise type places. So now take a logical look at who Manchester pulls from or who will drive to our businesses. We pull Pelham, some of Grundy, Morrison, Summitville, but Tullahoma, Woodbury, Shelbyville and McMinnville will go to Murfreesboro or somewhere else so it can be difficult for a business to move here without a sure draw from surrounding communities.  I often hear it mentioned that we should have more because we have 5 interstate exits, so when travelling why you do get off the interstate? Food, Fuel and rest, thus, the reason we are not lacking in hotels, motels, gas stations and honestly for our size moderate amount of restaurants.

We are beginning to see a surge of population in Manchester fueled by home buyers and renters relocating in Manchester from Rutherford County and I think the next census numbers will be interesting.  This is increasing our population and in my opinion will eventually lead to the kind of growth Manchester as a city and community desire. Good things are happening and because of our proximity to Murfreesboro we will experience a growth that will bring us what we want to have locally in my opinion.

I do not believe the tales of old men/women in back rooms trying to keep Manchester from getting new things or keeping it in their control. There are a lot of people working hard behind the scenes to bring Manchester the growth we all desire. Manchester does have a lot to offer with a fantastic location, great schools, good local industry, and a lot more. There are people willing to make the investment and they will come and add value to our community. The bottom line is it has to be worth the risk involved for an entity to spend huge money in initial investment and make it worth their while. Can we support a theater or shopping mall? I don’t know any more than y’all do but if you want to try to make that investment yourself I will certainly try to support you and your business. Good things will come but it will take time. 

But contrary to popular belief the city doesn’t build theaters, malls, restaurants, mini golf, go karts, or anything else, that is done by pure commercial investment that involves risk and risk takers both of which use hard numbers to get to the conclusions about where to invest.  One thing is for sure, in Manchester, Tullahoma, and Coffee County in general our high property tax rate is not helping anything.

This opinion is worth about what you paid for it. Coffee County is big enough for both communities to have nice things and work together and we would both be better off if we all did.