Chuy’s Tex-Mex is expected to make its Cookeville debut at The Willows in late spring or early summer 2027, bringing its Tex-Mex menu and colorful restaurant atmosphere to the new development at the southeast corner of South Willow Avenue and Interstate 40. Construction is set to begin October 3, according to a recent Instagram post from Ricky Shelton TN and reporting from the Upper Cumberland Business Journal.
The upcoming restaurant will be part of The Willows, a 40-acre development at 1100 South Willow Avenue that is taking shape with a mix of major retail and restaurant tenants. Target, Home Depot, McDonald’s, In-N-Out and Chuy’s are among the businesses associated with the development.
According to UCBJ, a spokesperson for Darden, which owns Chuy’s, said the company is excited to bring the brand to Cookeville. Guests can expect fresh, made-from-scratch Tex-Mex dishes, signature “ritas” and Chuy’s famous creamy jalapeño dip, served in the brand’s fun and eclectic atmosphere.
Founded in Austin, Texas, in 1982, Chuy’s opened its first location outside Texas in Franklin, Tennessee, in November 2009. According to the company’s website, the brand now operates more than 100 locations across 15 states, including eight other Tennessee restaurants.
If the current timeline holds, Cookeville could welcome its first Chuy’s in late spring or early summer 2027.
