Downtown Kingsport Association: Reflecting on 2025, looking ahead

KINGSPORT — Last year marked a year of revitalization, new beginnings and transition in Kingsport. Robin Cleary, senior director for the Downtown Kingsport Association, recapped some of last year's biggest milestones. She said downtown saw 22 new business openings and six business ownership changes; these new businesses added 97 jobs to downtown this past year. New restaurants like Galaxy Pizza & Arcade, Southern Craft BBQ, Momma D's and Ole Crow Tavern opened their doors in 2025, along with added entertainment options such as Kingsport's first cat cafe (Boops & Beans Cat Cafe) and Expedition Untamed. BANQ reopened as a venue at the corner of Broad and East Center streets downtown. The Main Street Project marked its official completion in 2025. "2025 was another impactful year for Downtown Kingsport, setting the stage for even greater progress in 2026," Cleary said. "Major investments like the Kingsport Mill redevelopment, Brickyard Village, DKA's own Downtown Improvement Grants, the recent State Theatre announcement and the completed Main Street Rebuild project are reshaping our downtown, while continued growth in food and beverage — including five new openings and one expansion in the past 13 months — signals strong confidence in the district's future." According to Cleary, downtown's business growth "remained steady" in 2025, compared to 2024 which brought 20 new businesses (44 jobs) and 2023 with 24 new businesses (79 jobs). She said the job increase spurred from two "sizable" restaurants opening downtown. In a document sent to downtown Kingsport business owners and shared with the Times News, Cleary states DKA hosted 30 festivals, events, holidays markets and special shopping experiences in 2025 — bringing an estimated 50,000 visitors to downtown. Facade grants DKA was awarded a $300,000 Downtown Improvement Grant from the state of Tennessee last year, which funded 11 facade improvement projects. The document states more than $770,000 will be invested in downtown from completed projects. The Times News previously reported the grant is through a reimbursable program, requiring a 25% match on behalf of the grantee. Downtown Kingsport DIG grant recipients announced in July 2025 were the following: McKinney Building, 129 E. New St./322 Commerce St. (awarded $50,000 of $155,072 total project cost) Casey Squared LLC, 801 E. Center St. (awarded $50,000 of $130,000 total project cost) Hudson's General Store, 147 Broad St. (awarded $50,000 of $250,000 total project cost) Hicks Block Building, 152-158 Broad St. (awarded $37,462.50 of $49,950 total project cost) RMM Holdings GP, 244 E. Main St. (awarded $50,000 of $129,532.50 total project cost) SC Kingsport LLC, 242 E. Main St. (awarded $31,332.53 or $41,776.70 total project cost) H. Lynn Shoemaker, 223 Broad St. (awarded $3,168 of $4,224 total project cost) High Voltage, 101 Cherokee St. (awarded $1,500 of $2,000 total project cost) King's Sport Axe House, 101 Cherokee St., Suite 20 (awarded $907.20 of $1,209.60 total project cost) Picsee Studio, 101 E. Cherokee St., Suite 10 (awarded $1,377 of $1,836 total project cost) Studio 116, 116 W. Main St. (awarded $1,331.25 of $1,775 total project cost) Cleary also introduced in the document "100 Strong for Downtown Kingsport," a community-driven campaign looking to raise funds for the Friends of Downtown Kingsport Association program. She said in the document any support towards the campaign aids DKA's effort to bring programming, promotion and marketing that highlights the downtown district. For more information about DKA, visit https://downtownkingsport.org/.