DALTON, Ga. — Dalton’s first major manufacturing facility could soon be one of its trendiest places to shop and hang out.

The Mill at Crown Garden will hold its grand opening in mid-May, and developers promise something that will be unique to the city.

“It’s a little more funky and urban than what Dalton is used to, but we want people to know they don’t have to go to Chattanooga or to Atlanta for this type of experience,” said Harper Carnes, one of the project designers for The Mill.

The Mill is being developed in about 25,000 square feet of the old Crown Mill at 825 Chattanooga Ave.

Built in 1885, the Crown Mill was the first major industrial facility in Dalton and one of the first cotton mills in this area of the state. The mill quickly grew to employ hundreds of people and was expanded several times during the next 20 years.

Developer and architect Lowell Kirkman bought the mill building around 15 years ago and turned part of it into loft apartments.

“They have been very successful. There’s a waiting list to get in,” he said.

The interior of the building features exposed brick walls, giving a look unlike other shopping areas in town. And the large industrial windows provide plenty of natural light during the daytime.

The building features 4,000 square feet of common space under an atrium as well as multiple patio spaces and a fenced-in playground for children.

“It’s a very open space, and the vision is that there will be a sharing of energy between the vendors, the restaurants,” said Carnes.

The common area will have Wi-Fi, tables with seating and couches.

“People can grab some coffee, a smoothie, some fresh juice and sit and talk,” said Carnes. “We are hoping that if students from Dalton State College or Dalton High School want to study they can come here and grab a chair. There aren’t that many places now, where if you want, to grab some coffee with a friend.”

Barbara Adamson, the other project designer for The Mill, says it will also host plenty of events.

“We’ll have pop up markets, farmers markets, wine tastings, artists markets,” she said. “If people feel like there’s nothing to do in Dalton, we want them to be able to come here and know there’s always something going on.”

Carnes said that among the shops already signed up are restaurants, a fitness facility featuring yoga and personal fitness training, and a craft beer bar with 30 taps.

“We have a lady who operates a flower business, and she will have a cart here every day with fresh flowers,” she said. “We have another lady from Mexico who will be selling authentic street tacos. It will have sort of a food truck feel.”

The venue will also host a Rak Market store.

“The Market stores are different from our outfitters stores,” said Gib Roland, owner of Rak Outfitters. “It’s home goods, some furniture, decorations, a little bit of everything. We opened our first one in Calhoun, and when I was talking to Barbara and Harper, The Mill seemed like a perfect place for another one. We are still going to have our Rak Outfitters in Dalton (on West Walnut Avenue).”

The Mill sits in the middle of the historic Crown Mill Village, which has been undergoing a revitalization, with owners renovating many of the old mill homes. A small pocket park is just across the parking lot, and The Mill faces the Crown Mill greenway, which is ideal for walking and bicycling. The Crown Gardens and Archives, headquarters of the Whitfield-Murray Historical Society, is just a short distance away. And the Mount Rachel biking and hiking trail is not too far away.

“We are really excited to be here,” Carnes said.