1921 Venue Grand Opening Set for Saturday

The City of East Ridge will celebrate the grand opening of Venue 1921, a new city-owned event and gathering space, on Saturday, February 7. The ribbon cutting will include remarks from city leadership, followed by an open house with music, refreshments, and tours of the venue.

The ceremony will begin at 1:30 p.m. and will feature remarks from city leadership, followed by an open house featuring music, light bites and refreshments and opportunities to explore the building’s design, functionality, and future use.

“We are excited to celebrate the Grand Opening of Venue 1921,” said East Ridge Mayor Brian Williams. “This new amenity is a wonderful addition to the City of East Ridge, offering a beautiful, modern space and a welcoming place for people to come together for community gatherings, special events, and celebrations of all kinds. We are proud to welcome Venue 1921 as a premier new destination in our city.”

Venue 1921 at East Ridge represents a significant investment in East Ridge’s commitment to community, economic development, and versatile public spaces. Designed to host a wide range of events—from civic gatherings to private celebrations, the venue is expected to serve residents, nonprofits, and local businesses for years to come.

The name “Venue 1921” honors the year East Ridge was officially founded. As a city-owned space, it stands as a tribute to our roots while looking ahead to a vibrant future. Each event hosted at Venue 1921 adds a new story to the city’s timeline — a place where neighbors, families, and friends gather to create lasting memories.

About Dick Cook

Dick Cook has lived in East Ridge since the Kennedy Administration when his parents bought a house on Marietta Street. Dick graduated from ERHS in 1976 before going on to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga where he studied Political Science. Dick worked for the Chattanooga Free-Press and the Chattanooga Times Free Press for 22 years. Free-Press Sports Editor Roy Exum plucked him out of production in 1989 and gave him a job as a sports reporter. Dick covered everything from prep sports to the whitewater events on the Ocoee River for the 1996 Olympics. When Chattanooga's two paper's merged, he became the Crime Reporter covering both the Chattanooga Police and Fire Departments. He was among reporters who were honored by the Associated Press for the TFP's coverage of the 2002 fog-shrouded crash on I-75 in Catoosa County, Dick and his wife, Cathy, live on Marlboro Avenue where they are seen frequently chasing around their three grandsons.