The Chattanooga Market

Article by Amira Eskander, The University Echo Online

NOTE: The Chattanooga Market will reopen for the 2009 season on April 26, 2009

With the economy in crisis, students are cutting back on everything except fashion, but instead of spending a lot of money, they are finding more cost-effective ways to shop.

Lizzie Duff, a Chattanooga senior, said she is normally a boutique shopper but has been searching for more affordable ways to dress due to the recession.

“You don’t have to spend a lot to look good,” Duff said. “It’s about the signature pieces in your wardrobe.” Fashionable bargains, especially on basic items, can be found at stores like TJ Maxx, Charlotte Russe, Rue 21, Target and Wal-Mart, Duff said. “You can always find those items cheaper if you’re willing to look,” she said.

“America’s Thrift Store on Lee Highway is also a great place to find deals if you’ve got the time to dig,” Duff said. “The clothes average around $2.84 per item, so you can put together an entire wardrobe for the price of one item from a boutique.”

Duff said she recommends shopping at the Chattanooga Market at the First Tennessee Pavilion on Sundays. “The great thing about the market is that everything is local,” she said. “You can find everything from clothes to jewelry to artwork to homemade jams and fresh flowers.”

Shopping at the Chattanooga Market helps support the community, Duff said. “The middle man is completely eliminated and the money goes directly to the individuals,” she said.
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