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So the Tennessean has an interesting article today about the Cool Springs area adding 200,000 square feet of retail space.

It takes the total square footage of that complex from 1.3 million to 1.5 million.

Indian Lake Village, which has frequently been referred to as “larger in square footage than Cool Springs” is planned for 1.5 million square feet.  Hmmm.  So Cool Springs is upping their square footage the exact amount they’d need to keep up with Indian Lake, eh?  Coincidence?

Also, it’s going to be similar to Indian Lake in other ways:

“The District at CoolSprings Galleria will feature an open-air, streetscape setting with unique and eye-catching storefronts, attractive architectural elements, extensive landscaping and pedestrian-friendly walkways. “

Does that sound like any new Hendersonville retail developments you’ve heard of?  Yeah, that’s what I thought.

Sure, the whole “walkable, street-like” thing is a big trend in new shopping complexes across the country.  It’s nothing terribly original.  Cool Springs and Hendersonville don’t have any particular rivalry that I know of… so it’s possible it’s just a coincidence.

But they have to have been bristling at all the pub Indian Lake has gotten for being bigger than them.

In the comments on the Tennessean’s site, one person raised the issue of Cool Springs being jealous of Indian Lake Village, and has been beaten to a pulp for it by the rest of the commenters.  You see… if you didn’t know this already, Hendersonville is a joke to most Nashvillians. The general attitude with the commenters can be summed up like this:  “Why would Cool Springs feel compelled to compete with dumpy, trivial Hendersonville?”

Here’s one sample comment someone actually left on that article:

“When I think of Hendersonville I think of Trans Ams, mullets in big trucks and big haired girls with long nails and smoking cigarettes.”

Very classy… even if it’s one of the most off-target stereotypes I’ve ever seen.  It’s also the way that anyone outside of the state of Tennessee views Nashville and every one of its surrounding communities.  Oh, and the guy who left that comment uses a brightly colored flame decal as his online profile picture.  Nothing says high-class like flames, my man.

Anyway, Indian Lake Village will no longer be the biggest retail development in the mid-state… it will have to settle for being the co-biggest.  Somehow, I don’t think those of us shopping there will mind.  Oh, also… our new digital theater kicks your theater’s butt, Cool Springs!  Nanny, nanny, boo, boo.