Cookeville’s Echo Valley Market Rebuild Nearing Completion

The rebuilding process for Cookeville’s Echo Valley Market is nearing completion.

Manager Aaron Patel said if construction continues as planned, the gas station and convenience store will open in about three weeks.

“It feels great to be back in the community,” Patel said. “I know a lot of people have been really happy to see us back, and we are also happy to bring back our store stronger and better, so this community can grow back the way it was earlier and grow better and stronger.”

Patel said the new building is an upgrade from the previous adding about 800 square feet. Patel said with that additional space comes a bigger deli with more selections.

“We’re doing 100 percent gas this time, which we did not have earlier,” Patel said. “Our deli is going to be better and bigger, and our storage which was 2,800 square feet earlier, it’s now 3,600 square feet. So, you’ll have more options at a quality price and a competitive price.”

The Echo Valley Market was destroyed during the March tornado. The Patel family started the rebuilding process last summer, but it has taken longer than expected. Patel said the business would have opened two months earlier if not for delays due to COVID.

“We had to get the grading work, the civil engineer, the architect, that took a little bit longer time than expected considering we are in the Corona phase era right now,” Patel said. “Materials have also been delayed.”

“We thank the city of Cookeville, the county, the people and everyone who helped us a long the way,” Patel said. “We are so grateful for their support.”