#universityoftennesseechattanooga

[verrettamusicblog-blog]

Chattanooga, LIT Hookah Bar and Lounge People's, y'all are adorable. Thanks for playing. Until next time... #chattanooga #LIT #hookah #bar #lounge #TN #people #playing #in #america #verretta #verrettamusicllc #verrettamusicpresentations #universityoftennesseechattanooga (at LIT Hookah Lounge & Bar Chattanooga)

[christinamaximos]

Prospectives of MLK Boulevard

When you ask students about Martin Luther King Boulevard, they can name two spots -- Champy’s and the Bessie Smith Cultural Hall. Being a native of Nashville, I didn’t know too much about Chattanooga beyond my UTC bubble. Yes, I loved going to Champy’s with my friends and some popular restaurants around downtown, however, I knew very little about Chattanooga’s cultural history and prominent figures that influenced some of Chattanooga’s neighborhoods, like MLK.

When you ask students about MLK Blvd, they often feel that there are hardly any places that appeal to them. They state that there are not many places to entertain them and provide them with a richer social college experience or feel part of the MLK community. For the students under 21, they feel that Chattanooga as whole does not give them options of social places to go and have fun.  Many, however, feel that MLK Blvd. could return to being the vivacious street it was when it was known as the Big Nine when it was a cultural hub for minorities in Chattanooga, similar to Beale Street in Memphis or Jefferson Street in Nashville. MLK Boulevard definitely has a lot of potential to be a thriving and lively social and commercial area.

What do students want to see on MLK? Cierra Richmond, Memphis, Senior, stated that she would like to see more fun social activities for students, for example, a restaurant with an arcade similar to Dave and Buster’s, and  a place like FunQuest where students can go bowling, skating and laser tag. Students over 21 would like to have more of a bustling social life where they have hookah lounges, discotheques and lounges open late on weekends.  Students also just want to see more restaurants like the Cookout restaurant, where for only 5 dollars you can order 2 main meals, a side, and choose a milkshake from a wide variety. More nail and hair shops and affordable housing on MLK would provide us with places to have our basic necessities met while providing a tighter community with students and the MLK district.

So, what do you say Chattanooga? Let’s animate MLK Blvd!