The openings keep coming. The Kennedy, a new chef-driven Americana gastropub, opens today at 11 a.m. for lunch service. The previous tenant, Blackhorse Brewery, closed last summer, and the renovations began shortly after. I met with Chad Kennedy and Brittany Singh, the owner and the marketing and events manager at Kennedy Concepts, respectively, to see the changes.
The Tailor Lofts building has undergone numerous changes in the last ten years, including apartment living and at least three restaurants (Arby’s, Five, and Blackhorse Brewing). You can see the history of those changes in former articles written by Inside of Knoxville. Chad tells me they wanted to create a space that was timeless, a space that would last and be here for many years to come, just like the building itself, which dates back to the 1800s.
From the Knoxville History Project, “The Sanford, Chamberlain, and Albers building, most recently known as Tailor Lofts, was built by an alliance of pharmaceutical entrepreneurs who were all Union combat veterans who’d had very different experiences with the war. A former Navy man, Albers had done time in the notorious Libby Prison. All were from up north, though Sanford had moved to Knoxville long before the war. It’s shorter than the other buildings on its block just because it’s a generation older; it was the sole survivor of the 1897 fire.”
The interior vastly differs from its predecessor and those that came before it. The walls are back to the natural brick color, and the bar is now a stunning centerpiece that has been moved from the left side wall to the more appropriate center of the space. The large, historically preserved windows provide natural light, keeping the space bright and airy. There is a section behind the bar that can be curtained for private dining for small parties, and the mezzanine seating area that holds 30 can be rented for special events (open to the public for dining as well). It offers excellent views of the restaurant from above. With seating for 158, the restaurant is suited for a casual lunch or elegant dinner.
The menu at The Kennedy is a culinary adventure, offering a blend of casual and upscale options that perfectly match the restaurant’s vibe. From a delectable bone marrow dish to homemade mini corndogs, the menu is a testament to the chef’s creativity. During the soft opening events, I enjoyed sampling a few items. Each dish was prepared with precision, served promptly, and was a delight to the taste buds. I sampled the mini corndogs, Caesar salad, spicey rigatoni, pizza(not pictured), and the bourbon banana foster shortcake.
The cocktails were born from the group’s travels to other cities to find cocktails they hadn’t seen before. They put their spin on the ones they liked best and created the menu from those. One of those cocktails is based on a drink called the Paper Airplane. Bar Manager/drink specialist Matt Leonard made his version, and they call it the M.I.A. (Loosely associated with the song Paper Planes by M.I.A.) This is one of the “Good for Groups” drinks that serve four or more at the table. It uses whisky as a base and is served in a tall container with four spouts. It is quite the talking piece. They offer two other group drinks, one served in a teapot with dry ice to simulate steam from a hot tea. It is a gin-based drink that is floral and sweet. The final community drink is rum-based and is called the Shake & Bake. It is presented in a vessel that looks like a canteen. I applaud the creativity of the drink menu and the serving pieces the drinks come in. I’m particularly excited about the Milk and Honey drink served in a small bathtub, with a floating rubber ducky and a swirly straw. It is gin-based and a throwback to when gin was made in bathtubs during prohibition. They will have a rotating list of local beers and many popular staple beers and wines. For the sober curious, they offer six mocktails.
Chad Kennedy began Kennedy Concepts 25 years ago “to make people happy.” He credits his mom for that mentality. His operations have been mainly in Gatlinburg, but he came into the Knoxville scene around 2021. He says, “If you get into this business for any other reason than making people happy, you won’t last because it is hard.” He focuses on building a solid staff, keeping them bought into a positive culture, and ensuring customers’ enjoyment of the spaces he creates.
When looking for new projects, he asks, “What does the area not have, and what can we do better for the market?” In early 2023, Oliver Smith approached Chad about entering a partnership to put a restaurant in the space being vacated by Blackhorse Brewing. Having worked with him before, Chad jumped at the opportunity. Horner Building Co. was the contractor for the project. The Johnson Studio out of Atlanta led the architecture and renovations. They also worked with Chad on another local business, Loco Burro. Chad also holds partial ownership in Café 4.
The hours will be 11 a.m.-1 a.m. Sunday-Thursday and 11 a.m.-3 a.m. on Friday/Saturday. They plan to begin serving brunch in July and will open at 9 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday for that service. Reservations are not required but encouraged through Resy.
Up next for Kenndey Concepts in Knoxville is a restaurant concept at The Davy, new student housing for UTK. They will call the restaurant on the bottom floor there Mimosas (it backs up to Mimosa Ave). The concept will serve all-day brunch and late-night meals. It is still in progress, but they hope to open in the Spring of 2025.
