SWEETWATER-Sweetwater city officials recently met with Cracker Barrel officials in hopes of getting the restaurant chain to bring a store back to Sweetwater.

Cracker Barrel left Sweetwater in the fall of 2007 for a new building in Athens. The loss of the tax dollars and Cracker Barrel's ability to draw motorists off the interstate to Sweetwater's motels and other businesses was a major economic blow.

But Sweetwater has been on a roll lately garnering numerous grants, including a grant for a visitors center/train station replica downtown, and landing a Walmart store (due for completion in the summer of 2013). The opening of the Redneck Resort mud park and the new apartment complex at Interstate 75 are also economic positives for the town.

Sweetwater also finally got its high-mast lighting for Exit 62 put up in late 2011 and a new owner bought the motel next to the old Cracker Barrel building.

Sweetwater officials took all that information and good news to Cracker Barrel leaders recently and made their best pitch.

"The ball is in their court," Mayor Doyle Lowe said. "We've done all we can do on our end."

Lowe is still thinking positively and hopes to hear good news next year.

tommy.millsaps@advocateanddemocrat | 337-7101