(Today’s article is by contributing writer K.W. (Keith) Leonard. Leonard, an English teacher with Knox County Schools, has called Knoxville home for more than thirty-five years, most of which he’s spent in South Knoxville.)
I first set foot in The Foundry 30 years ago during an age when all my college friends were getting married. One of my close friends hosted her wedding reception there, and over the years that followed, I attended holiday parties, receptions and most recently, civic group meetings. The Foundry has provided a space for events of all kinds since 1993 when Marianne Greene purchased the facility to provide Knoxville “a unique space to host catered weddings and events.”
The Foundry will host its final events in December 2024 and vacate the space in January 2025, marking 32 years of service to Knoxville. I met with mother and daughter Marianne Green and Sharon Bitzer to discuss the decision to sell the Foundry and some of their favorite memories. Before our meeting, I sent Marianne one of Urban Guy’s articles covering plans to renovate the The Foundry from September 11, 2020. As I sat down, Marianne Greene told me that, upon re-reading, “everything in that article is wrong.” After a laugh, she quickly clarified that almost none of the plans in the article that she had shared four years ago actually materialized.
Covid, Construction and the Need to Grow
Renovations on the South Hall began near the end of 2019, and then Covid hit. For around three years, the Foundry took in little to no money. The Greenes managed to pay staff and keep their mortgage up to date. As business returned, increased costs from construction followed, slowing down renovations.
When business did return, weddings and receptions, one of their primary booking sources, shifted. Outdoor weddings became more popular, and some couples opted to simply get married in smaller ceremonies (or not marry at all). For those who waited, the Foundry offered to rebook their event; however, rebooked events took the place of new business, again leading to uneven revenue.
Additionally, a consistent source of event booking, the University of Tennessee, saw increased enrollment that affected The Foundry’s ability to host events. One of the first groups to return to the Foundry after reopening were UTK sororities. In the past, the venue could easily host these events, but the increased volume of students meant that The Foundry had to break up events to accommodate the number of guests.
To meet these new needs, the Foundry had to continue with their original renovation plans to navigate the changing landscape. Both Sharon and Marianne also noted that, after 30 years, the time had also come to update the look throughout the space. The decision was made to begin limiting or stopping bookings to prepare for a renovation.
Looking to the Past to Look Forward
During this time, selling the facility rather than renovating became an option. Though they were not looking to sell, and some offers had come in on their own, both noted that the “right buyer” that would contribute to the downtown community was an essential goal, as the Foundry had served the downtown community in various ways for much of its history.
Greene shared an article from the re-opening of The Foundry, which had served multiple purposes since its construction between 1865 to 1867. Serving as a foundry as the Knoxville Iron Company until 1903 when it became a warehouse for the L&N Railroad, then House-Hasson until a fire damaged the building in 1979. The facility was renovated to serve as a German style beer hall by Strohs for the 1982 World’s Fair and then purchased post-Fair with the new name The Foundry where it was mostly unused until the Greene family purchased it.
As Marianne reflected on the 32 years of owning the Foundry, she didn’t really know what she was getting into when she started. Her father, an accountant, and a brother, a professor in Michigan, helped her and her sister, who later pursued a different career, create a business plan. She purchased the Foundry at a time when downtown was just beginning the journey to what it is today. Civic groups were asking for a place to meet that included catering, and few-to-no businesses existed to fill this need.
During the first years, many parts of the downtown infrastructure, like the tunnel into Henley Street from Interstates 40 and 75 were just being built, and her first customers had to navigate past construction. The Foundry had been padlocked for ten years when she purchased it, and the food from ten years prior was still sitting exactly as it had been ten years earlier.
The plan? Marianne told me, “I took one step, and it worked. I took another step, and it worked.” For 32 years. Marianne noted that she made a profit in the first year. “We made $20,000, and I was thrilled.”
After an article was written about the opening 32 years ago, the phone began to ring off the hook. The need for this type of space was evident. One of her first bookings was a father who planned his daughter’s wedding at the Foundry and asked Marianne if she would still be there in a year. He recently attended an event there, thirty years after his daughter’s wedding, and told her, “Well, I guess you made it!”
So, what led to the decision to sell The Foundry?
The Greenes noted that many of their staff, including the chef and sous chef are past retirement age. Marianne is now 83, having started the Foundry at age 50. Sharon is also approaching retirement age and said that she would like to cut back to have a better work-life balance. The Greens still work a typical six-day work week to run the Foundry. The banquet staff also told the Greens that they wanted to pursue other opportunities.
Additionally, while the Foundry served a unique role for years, now downtown Knoxville features multiple event spaces. Many of those spaces use outside catering rather than in-house as well, reflecting a change in customer preferences. Finally, Marianne did not want to see the space simply become another bar, one of its past uses, with so many similar spaces in the downtown area. As the family considered other potential uses that could contribute to the downtown community, it became apparent that there were options to fill the space that would fulfill this goal.
Next Steps
Notifications have gone out to regular clients that bookings from 2025 forward are unavailable. Several final Christmas parties have been scheduled through the end of the year where business will be normal until the end of December. The Greens and their staff will then take one month to empty the property.
While some items are being sold, like a few of the original Strohaus tables from the World’s Fair era, many items are being given to long-term 501c non-profit clients who started at the Foundry. One of her favorite events, hosting Veterans Day meetings after the parade, will now take place at a new building. Some of the furniture is being donated to help start this building. The Ramallah Club of Knoxville, with whom the Foundry has worked for years, will also receive furniture for their new space.
And after 32 years of service to the Knoxville community, the Greenes will enjoy a new phase in their lives. For The Foundry, as a new owner and purpose materialize, I will update with another story.