Living in Johnson City Tennessee
Are you considering a move to Johnson City or one of the surrounding beautiful towns in Northeast Tennessee? Join Stephanie and Shad, two transplants who previously lived in six states across the country, as they share their journey of settling down in this vibrant region. You'll discover everything Johnson City has to offer. Learn about the towns, must try eateries, local neighborhoods, and things to do for every type of adventurer. Whether you are thinking about making Johnson City your home or just curious about life in the Appalachian Mountains, tune in for a mix of local stories, tips, what you may not like, what might surprise you, and what you will love about living in Northeast Tennessee!
Living in Johnson City Tennessee
What's Happening in Kingsport Tennessee?
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Is Kingsport the next big hidden gem in the Southeast? In this episode, we’re diving into the incredible transformation happening right now in this once quiet Northeast Tennessee town—and trust us, it’s turning heads.
From a downtown business boom with over 20 new shops and restaurants opening in 2025, to major investments in infrastructure and public spaces, Kingsport is building a strong foundation for long-term growth. We’ll take you through exciting updates like the revitalized downtown, new dining hotspots, and the city’s commitment to creating a vibrant, walkable community.
We also explore the recreation revolution underway, including the new BlueCross Healthy Place at Riverwalk Park, upgrades to Bays Mountain Park & Planetarium, and the expanding Greenbelt system. Plus, big entertainment is on the way with a brand-new IMAX theater coming to Fort Henry Mall, and a state-of-the-art pickleball facility transforming an old retail space into something completely new.
And that’s not all—Kingsport is reimagining its industrial past with projects like a boutique hotel in the historic Hosiery building and the future Brickyard Village, a mixed-use community that will connect directly to downtown.
It’s no surprise U.S. News & World Report ranked Kingsport as one of the Best Places to Live in Tennessee for 2025–2026. The big question is… could this be your next home?
📞 Contact The Freck Group at Greater Impact Realty:
Our team specializes in helping people just like you relocate to Northeast Tennessee.
Stephanie Morr
📱 423-429-5214
📧 stefamorr@gmail.com
Shad Freck
📱 423-631-1716
📧 shad@shadfreck.com
Greater Impact Office:
📞 423-973-8634 ask for The Freck Group
🌐 Website: livinginjohnsoncity.com
If you’re thinking about moving to Northeast Tennessee, we’d love to help you every step of the way.
👉 Remember… it’s never too soon to start planning your move!
If you're thinking about moving to Johnson City or one of the beautiful surrounding towns in Northeast Tennessee, you're in the right place. I'm your host, Stephanie Moore, along with Jad Fred. This is the Living in Johnson City, Tennessee podcast. Learn about the local towns, neighborhoods, things to do, what you may not like, and why so many people are falling in love with Johnson City. Hop on over to our YouTube channel, Living in Johnson City, Tennessee, to enjoy videos of this picturesque area nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Now let's get started. Wow, what is happening here in Kingsport, Tennessee? This small town has really been turning heads, and I know it's got my attention. It has been rebuilding itself from the ground up. And today I want to tell you about some exciting ways that it's making a new future for itself. Did you know in 2025 alone, Kingsport had 20 new businesses open right here in the downtown area? Here's some examples of businesses that open in the downtown: Southern Craft Barbecue, Grace Meadows Farm Creamery, Gypsy Bean Leaves and Things, Mama D's Southern Eatery, the Kingsport Junction Food Truck Park, and On Center Yoga and Fitness, just to name a few. And Kingsport now has over 20 downtown restaurants to choose from, including the old favorites like Stir Fry and the Bagel Exchange. Kingsport is now bustling with new businesses and storefronts with many more to come. Kingsport is also making a huge investment to its public spaces, including a multi-million dollar renovation of its public library, an overhaul of its Justice Department, and it's replacing the archaic utilities and old roads. For instance, moving power lines underground, building a strong foundation. Kingsport is also transforming its old industrial areas to something new. Here's two examples of what they're doing, and you can look forward to in the future. The old 108-year-old hosiery building is going to be converted and renovated into a beautiful boutique hotel. And this hotel will be just steps from the Kingsport Carousel, Farmers Market, restaurants, and the original Pals, where you can get your Frenchie fry and your peanut butter shake. The second project is on a 50-acre industrial park, and there's going to be a community of homes called Brickyard Village. This beautiful neighborhood will have surrounding parks, and it already has a couple of neighboring parks. Brickyard Village that has ball diamonds, picnic pavilions, children's playground, and to the other side of it, the Scott Addams Memorial Skate Park. In addition to that, there'll be a pedestrian walkway that takes people over to Main Street. So this is going to be a wonderful area for recreation, outdoor activities, and visiting the downtown. Kingsport is also making a huge commitment to its lifestyle of its residents by focusing on recreation, starting with the Blue Cross Healthy Place at Riverwalk. This will be situated, well, is actually a brand new park that's right along the existing 11-mile beautiful green belt here in the downtown area. It's an eight-point-acre park with an all-inclusive children's playground area, picnic areas, uh fitness areas, sports courts, and access to the Holston River. And Kingsport is not going to miss out on the pickleball craze. The old JC Penny building is going to be converted to indoor pickleball courts, a fitness area, maybe some apartments and or retail space, plus pickleball courts on the rooftop. So imagine playing pickleball and looking at the sites in downtown. And get ready for some big entertainment, luxury seating, and upgraded concessions because IMAX is coming to town. We are getting our first IMAX theater here in Kingsport. It's being built right alongside the Fort Henry Mall. So mark your calendars. Just minutes from downtown at Bayes Mountain Nature Park and Planetarium, it's being modernized with new, more comfortable public spaces, habitats, exhibits, and walking trails. And they will continue to improve this park over the next several years. As you can see, Kingsport is catching people's attention across the country, including U.S. News and World Report, that is named Kingsport the number three city, best city to live in in Tennessee in 2025 and 26. So what do you think? Do you think you could call Kingsport home? I'd love to see your comments below. My name is Stephanie with the Fret Group at Greater Impact Realty. Our team specializes in helping people like you that are moving across the country to Northeast Tennessee. And if you have questions, and I know you do, give us a call, text, or email. A member of our team would be happy to help you. And as I always say, it's never too soon to start planning your move. I hope to see you here in Northeast Tennessee!