This has been a summer of disappearances in downtown Knoxville. Vagabondia, which was a Market Square staple, disappeared. I was told it was all good, the business was fine, but the offer to purchase the building was better. Fizz is coming in its place. 10,000 Villages, also a long-term tenant on Market Square disappeared. Again, I was told all is good, that the concept continues online and in other markets. The people who were running it were doing so as volunteers and they were ready to move on. Swagger took its place. Manhattans closed and that building and the one across the street housing Patrick Sullivan’s are for sale. Both are Old City institutions.
On a personal level, Hector Qirko, who many of us assumed we would have forever, has moved to South Carolina, taking his quirky guitar licks and jazzy stylings to other markets. The clincher was a full-time teaching offer. That one hurts for those of us who have enjoyed his music and his smile for years.
Sadly, Taylor has suggested that he, too, will soon disappear. He says this is the worst year he’s ever had for rose sales and that the universe calls elsewhere. His voice trails off and he looks into the distance and that’s all he’ll say. Knoxville is losing a kind spirit and another person who makes the texture of life downtown richer for his presence. Hopefully he’ll have a change of heart. If not,we’ll miss him. Someone else might step in to sell flowers, but it will not be with the same style and grace and the flowers could not possibly be more beautiful.
