Eight months ago news broke that a building on the 900 block of Sevier Avenue would be developed with a number of businesses joining to fill the large space. Presented as a possible smaller scale version of Pike Place Market, no timeline was given with the announcement as plans were in a very early phase.
Tim Duff and the other investors have now announced that Asheville, North Carolina’s Hi-Wire Brewing will be “opening its fourth retail taproom” this summer. The company was established in 2013 and distributes in multiple states, including Tennessee. The new taproom will have the full line of Hi-Wire beers, including some previously unavailable locally.
The entire second floor of the building at 906 Sevier Avenue, over 10,000 square feet, will be taken by the taproom which will have a 455 person capacity. Also included are two outdoor decks with one being on the roof and including a view of downtown Knoxville and the other on the back side of the building facing the green-way there.
There will be twenty-four taps included with some reserved as guest taps for local breweries. They will also offer local cider, wine and all their own specialty and “one-off” beers. Unlike any taprooms currently operating in our area, they will also focus on games and activities, promising “two soccer pool tables, table tennis, shuffleboard, foosball and more.”
Co-owner Adam Charnack put out the following statement:
Knoxville and Asheville are, to us, like cousins. They’re both small mountain cities with strong outdoors, food and drink cultures. We’ve been selling our beers in Tennessee for about three years, and it’s the state in which we saw the largest growth in 2018. Being able to bring the “Asheville Hi-Wire” experience to Knoxville and to Tennessee seems like the natural next step in growing our relationship. We are committed to deepening our ties to the community and to the state while providing the best and most innovative beers to loyal, tried-and-true fans.
I spoke, once again, with Tim Duff who is not only a partner in the development, but is the leasing agent through Realty Executives Commercial. He says he fell in love with the building when he saw the inside and realized the potential. He thinks the new tap room is an excellent start to enlisting occupants for the building. He said he considers it a tip of the hat to Knoxville that an Asheville brewery wants to be part of our craft beer scene.
The construction is projected to be completed by this summer, and Tim tells me to expect more announcements along the way. He’d like to see a bakery, restaurant and grocery included. He marvels at the development that has happened in south Knoxville in the last few years and he’s happy to be a part of it.
Hi-Wire Brewing has not only been a rapidly growing force in the craft beer industry, they have also been recognized for the quality of their beer:
Hi-Wire was awarded the gold medal at the 2016 Great American Beer Festival® in the German-Style Maerzen category for their Zirkusfest Oktoberfest Lager. Most recently, they took home bronze in the Wood and Barrel Aged Beer category at the 2018 World Beer Cup® for their Dry Hopped Brett Pale Ale.
You can follow the company on Facebook and check out their webpage. If you may be interested in a commercial space in the building, contact Tim Duff at 865-254-9786.