Two new businesses were announced yesterday, adding to the surge in development along Sevier Avenue just over the Gay Street Bridge from downtown. With the growth in popularity of the nearby Urban Wilderness and the looming opening of Suttree Landing Park, the area is attracting businesses at a rapid pace. Uncle Lem’s Mercantile and Outdoor and South Landing CrossFit, located at 1020 Sevier Avenue are located very close to Three Bears Coffee and Alliance Brewing, making the spot one of the most rapidly developing in the area.
The two businesses will share a 6,000 square foot building which, at the moment is an empty shell. Both represent an active lifestyle consistent with the concentration of canoeing, kayaking, hiking and biking in the area. Uncle Lem’s will stock all the equipment required for the lifestyle except the bikes.
This will be the second location of the Uncle Lem’s brand, though this location will have an expanded inventory which will include, “natural products that meet or exceed certified organic standards to assist our patrons with living a toxic free lifestyle, whether that be our organic camping food or essential oils and accessories.” Pharmacist Kendrick Smith will be a partner in the venture and he told me he intends to make sure the natural products are the best available.
Kevin Hill, owner of the Uncle Lem’s businesses has a personal stake in the all natural emphasis, his family has changed their dietary approach and he feels they are much healthier for having done so. He views the new product line as very consistent with the active lifestyle the rest of their products promote. “Uncle Lem’s has always been about promoting a healthy life via promoting an active outdoor lifestyle and now we have completed the package by promoting a cleaner way of living in a 21st century world full of man-made toxins.
Kevin and his family have lived in south Knoxville for the last six years and he’s excited to have one of his locations near his home. Kendrick, a twelve-year Knoxville resident, works at Long’s Drug Store and is vice-president of Smith-Turner Drug Store in Sneedville.
South Landing CrossFit is a first business for Crissy and Shane Glarrow. The couple make their home in south Knoxville and are excited to add to the health of the area. Crissy sums up their goals, “We want to get people healthy and strong in the gym, so they can take their health and wellness goals outside of the four walls of the gym, and do what they are passionate about. . . We want to help people achieve their life goals in the gym to provide them with functional fitness for the community and to live their life fully.” The center will offer a range of classes and will offer memberships.
Both businesses, which were represented by Conversion Properties, hope to be open in October or November.