The second location of K Brew coffee opens today at 800 Market Street in the federal building (or the Whittle Building for people who remember the 80s). It’s at the very end of Market, just under the arch of the passageway into the courtyard. It marks the first expansion of the business and the continued expansion of coffee houses in and around downtown.
The space looks remarkably different than when Hot Bagel Company operated the shop. Smee Busby Architects developed the design and the entire orientation of the storefront has shifted. Wooden accents warm the space and include some very cool features: A slice of a 50-year-old elm serves as counter space, large wooden panels face the door and hold the menu, logo and bagged coffee for sale.
The most interesting feature to me was the map behind the counter, made by David Harmon of Native Maps, it’s a Knoxville map divided into the various neighborhoods or parts of town. He’s got them for other cities, as well. What makes this one so cool is that it’s mounted on the same-styled wood panels that face the door. Prints of the map are for sale in the store as are K Brew t-shirts.
The shop also has cold drinks for sale and will have healthy snacks mentioned in the previous article, though co-owner Pierce LaMacchia tells me they may also have some guilty pleasure sorts of sweets, as well, for those who want them. The photograph behind the cold drinks was made at Abbey Fields and shows the Standard Knitting Mill in the background. Pierce said it speaks to him of the old and the new in the city.
They open at 7:00 AM this morning (or opened, if you are reading this later in the morning or day) and will close at 6:00 PM. Those will be their regular hours each day, though they may adjust them in response to demand. The shop will be open Monday through Friday, but closed on federal holidays – such as this Monday, President’s Day. Stop in and welcome them to the neighborhood and pick up a fine cup of coffee.
One final word: This makes the third retail opening downtown just this week, along with the Old City Wine Bar and Balter Brewing. We’ve just seen the opening of The Daniel and Makers Donuts and that comes at the same time our pharmacy moved into its permanent space. These are amazing times to experience downtown Knoxville. Tune in. This is probably a period never to be replicated in our city. It’s special.