Cookeville’s long-running big-box wish list is finally coming through. The Home Depot is officially headed for town and will anchor The Willows, a planned 40-acre retail development at the southeast corner of South Willow Avenue and Interstate 40. The home-improvement giant is expected to open in fall 2026, with a Target and a mix of additional shops and restaurants also planned for the site.
Official confirmations and timing
According to the Upper Cumberland Business Journal, CHM, LLC has acquired the property and begun site work to prepare The Willows for Home Depot, Target and multiple outparcels.
Groundbreaking coverage in April 2025 highlighted local officials and developers kicking off the project and outlining the center’s big-box lineup and restaurant pads.
How this fits Home Depot’s expansion
The Cookeville store plugs directly into The Home Depot’s broader build-out. The Home Depot's corporate newsroom reports the company plans to open 12 new U.S. locations across eight states in 2026, adding more than 1.6 million square feet of retail space and creating thousands of jobs nationwide.
Industry coverage that followed the announcement lists Cookeville among the planned fall 2026 openings, according to Hardware Retailing, putting the city on the same timeline as several other high-profile markets.
Scale and local impact
Local construction reporting pegs The Willows as roughly a $60 million project expected to generate about 350 to 400 jobs for the Cookeville area, with the site located near Exit 286 off I-40, per Construction il News.
The City of Cookeville’s news page notes the April 2025 groundbreaking, lists 1100 South Willow Avenue as the development site and confirms that city officials have approved infrastructure work to support the center, including utilities and road improvements.
Putnam County Mayor Randy Porter told the Upper Cumberland Business Journal that “these two retailers have been, by far, the most requested by our citizens,” while Cookeville Mayor Laurin Wheaton said the project “reflects the strength of our local economy.” Local leaders say the development is structured to keep more sales tax revenue in Putnam County while expanding shopping options that residents have traditionally driven to other cities to find.
What to expect next
The Home Depot's corporate newsroom notes that new stores typically feature larger garden centers, expanded buy-online-pick-up-in-store capacity and full tool-rental centers, with openings usually paired with local hiring campaigns.
City staff and CHM officials say permitting, utility work and signage will be the next big milestones, with additional tenant announcements and hiring timelines expected as vertical construction ramps up.
We will update this story as CHM, the City of Cookeville and The Home Depot release firm opening dates, job fair information or new tenant news for The Willows. Residents can keep an eye on developer and city channels for construction updates, timelines and hiring notices as the project moves forward.
