Under Construction: Couple turns factory into house, store on Main Street

Paul McCoin works on the renovation of an old textile supply building on Main Street on Thursday. The building is being renovated into a residence and retail storefront by Collier Construction.

Photo by Allison Love.

Plan: Convert an abandoned factory and warehouse on Main Street into a residence and retail storefront. When completed later this year, the structure will include a 1,400-square-foot storefront with about 3,700 square feet of residential space for the owner behind the store.

Location: 317 E. Main St.

Investment: Projected at $300,000

Owners: David and Susan Dyer, a retired couple from Wisconsin. Susan operates a jewelry business out of their current rental home on Mountain Creek Road.

Builders: Collier Construction

History: The single-story, light manufacturing building was built in 1980, sold in 1987 and used by Reeves Re-Needling Co., until the business closed its local operations nearly two years ago. The Dyers bought the building in March for $285,000.

Why: David Dyer, 65, said he and his wife began visiting Chattanooga to see a sister who lives on Signal Mountain and decided to relocate to Chattanooga when David retired. The couple wanted to buy and rebuild a home on the Southside "where we can walk to restaurants and other attractions." Dyer worked in the wood products industry before retiring and has previously rehabilitated other structures. "It's a great location and we think it has a lot of potential," he said.