By HAYLEY HARMON
6 News Reporter
KNOVILLE (WATE) – It is the first full weekend by Publix and Target were open at the Northshore Town Center, and, combined with Tennessee's tax free weekend, shoppers were out in full force Sunday.
With the influx of business comes increased traffic, and some area residents were not pleased.
The Davide family, who lives just down the road from the stores, was there early this morning.
"We wanted to come out, check out the new store and get as much of our back to school shopping done as we could," Mike Davide said. "Clothes and all the school supplies that we knew about."
They were also cashing in on the tax free action.
"We did save a good bit of money off the taxes. I think anyway so," Davide said.
But the appeal of two brand new stores, opening within weeks of each other, on top of the tax free holiday, means more cars, more people and more traffic.
"We were at Publix a couple of days ago and it was really crazy there," Davide said.
It also makes it harder for those who live around the Northshore Drive development to get around.
"Lots of foot traffic, people going in and out, there's only one good way to get in and out of there," Davide said. "We did make a couple circles around to find a decent spot."
Other people who live nearby tell us they've had a hard time getting down the road as well.
"Actually I have seen a lot of an increase in the traffic for the past couple of days," Sarada Akula of Knoxville said.
Many of their neighbors have noticed it too.
"It's a madhouse and really congested. A lot of people are excited but a lot of people are not so excited," Daniel Pittman said.
Publix and Target are the only stores open in the Northshore Town Center right now, but many more stores are slated to open later this year, including a frozen yogurt shop and nail salon.
There will also be residential and office space.
