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Founds Park (Photo by Eric McCarty)

Founders Park (Photography by Eric McCarty)

Entrepreneurs, creatives, startups, tech junkies, developers and geeks—welcome to downtown Johnson City, Tennessee. We have seen an influx of you and your businesses into the region over the past year and we’re happy to see that downtown has become your hub. If you’re new to the area, here is everything you need to know to get your feet off the ground.
Where to work, live and play in Johnson City—newcomers’ edition.
WORK:
Spark Plaza

Photograph by Spark Plaza

Whether you need collaborative space, individual space, traditional office space or commercial space, downtown can be your center for work and productivity. Spark Plaza is a coworking community that is unique to this area. Many transplants come from larger cities with thriving coworking and collaborative spaces that they wouldn’t expect to find here. We are the only community of our kind in the region. We offer both shared office space and private office space, as well as a collaborative work environment perfect for anyone who is self-employed, independent, or working remote from their larger company. If you are that larger company and need the commercial space, you can find it with our friends over at Mitch Cox Companies, who handle a large portion of downtown’s commercial and development projects. Contact Shannon Castillo for more info on commercial office space.

Helpful links for WORKING in JC: tri.js Monthly Javascript Meetup, Adobe Users Group, Pitches & Pints

LIVE:
View over Downtwon

Photograph by Mark Peacock

Living in Johnson City ranges from loft apartments downtown to secluded mountain oases. Besides downtown of course, our top picks for neighborhoods in Johnson City are the Tree Streets, a collection of historic homes along University Parkway; the Gump Addition, one of JC’s most prestigious neighborhoods; WeHo, a family-centric community along West Holston Avenue; HEANA (Historic East Avenues Neighborhood Association) the liaison between downtown and Roan Street areas; and Pine Crest, doting views of Buffalo Mountain and proximity to recreation along the Tweetsie Trail. Once you get outside of Johnson City, if you don’t mind a bit longer commute, there are charming small towns and secluded mountainous homes galore. Some of these areas include Bristol TN/VA, Kingsport, Jonesborough, Elizabethton and Unicoi, plus the bucolic communities surrounding Watauga and Boone Lakes.

Helpful link for LIVING in JC: Johnson City Chamber, Bristol Chamber, Kingsport Chamber, WCEDC, London’s Lofts, Urban Redevelopment Alliance

PLAY:
Blue Plum Festival

Photograph contributed by Blue Plum Festival

Downtown is definitely Johnson City’s center for play. There is a plethora of new shops, restaurants and bars lining Main Street, Market Street, Roan Street and Buffalo Street. Recreational opportunities are found in the newly completed Founder’s Park and Tweetsie Trail Connector, which was expanded to make downtown accessible via the trail on foot or bike. The arts have a home downtown at Nelson Fine Art Center, Hands On! Regional Museum, Tipton Gallery and Johnson City Community Theatre. Downtown is also the Tri-Cities’ epicenter for craft beer and nightlife. There are four independent breweries within a one-mile radius, even more spots for the later-night owls, and a thriving music scene. Catch shows all week long from regional (and sometimes national) acts at Capone’s, The Willow Tree or The Down Home.

With new businesses and developments opening weekly, also comes a thriving sense of community. If you find yourself saying, “There’s nothing to do around here,” think again. For a calendar of downtown events, many of which are free, visit downtownjc.com/events/ or subscribe to the spark plaza newsletter by sending us your information on the contact page.

Helpful links for PLAYING in JC: Downtown Dining Options, Downtown Breweries and TaproomsTrek Bike Store, BrewFund, C.S. McCulloughs Barbers, The Fouled Anchor, Overmountain Outdoors

So, newcomers, we extend this as our formal welcome to downtown JC. See you around!