Editor’s note: The impetus behind our “Urban Outposts” series is that so much of Knoxville’s creative energy these days is happening beyond the downtown core. As rent climbs, some of the city’s scrappiest, most innovative small businesses and artists are finding footholds where the risk makes more sense. If we only cover the center city and its immediate halo, we’re missing some of the coolest, most interesting stuff.
Part of my goal as the new editor has been to widen the frame. How do we highlight businesses that feel urban—by which I loosely mean people living, working, creating and colliding in close quarters—or that embody an urban ethos, even if they’re operating on “the fringe”?
Take Merchant Drive<Cedar Lane, on the far north side of Sharp’s Ridge and I-640. The stretch feels kind of Whateverville—fast food, one of Knoxville’s two Hooters, a Starbucks (wow!)—and it kind of is. But, if you look closely, for decades it has consistently punched above its cultural weight. Exhibit A: Right now there’s an Afghan street-food truck parking daily at 117 Cedar Lane, complete with outdoor seating, amazing authentic food and a story that stretches from Kabul to Knoxville.
Today, Angela takes us inside a just-opened gem with a powerful story just off Merchant Drive: Mis Amores. Photos are by me from the ribbon-cutting, when dozens of folks queued outside to be among the first inside the space.
Read previous editions of Urban Outposts here. Have a nomination? Drop it in the comments. I’ve got a spreadsheet going. – Leslie
When visitors step inside Mis Amores Bookshop Cafe, the first thing you will notice is the color, soft shades of rose and coral that glow warmly against the floors of the former restaurant at 5331 Central Avenue Pike.
But it’s the smell that lingers. A mix of fresh espresso, sugar, and something unmistakably comforting: flan just pulled from the cooler, a family recipe that owner Anaika Anderson makes herself.
Anderson moves behind the counter, retrieving pastel cups and spoons before offering a taste. It’s part introduction, part invitation into her world, one built on memory, migration, and the belief that stories can change the way we move through grief.
The name Mis Amores, or “My Loves,” is a declaration of self and culture.
“I knew that I wanted a name that was in Spanish, because it’s my form of rebellion, in the sense that you can’t force me to speak English and take away my Spanish,” she said. “And then it all kind of came to me. I’m also the first romance bookstore with a Spanish name outside of Puerto Rico, which I think is a powerful thing.”
Mis Amores held its grand opening on Nov. 15 and is Knoxville’s newest independent bookstore and the city’s first Black-owned coffee shop. It’s also the final chapter during a time of loss, transition, and rebuilding for Anderson and her husband, who relocated from Central Florida after the death of their child last year.
In the months that followed, to channel her grief, she turned to reading, specifically romance novels, to find the healing books provided during her childhood. Romance literature, the store’s central genre, reflects Anderson’s personal journey and the theme she wanted to highlight for her customers.
“Romance was always a genre of books that I love. It’s the number one top-selling genre, and as a person who lived with years of abuse, being Black, Latina, and queer, they showed me aspects of myself that are lovable, and that I don’t have to hide,” she said.
She emphasized that romance isn’t just about steamy plots. “Many people think romance is only about being ‘spicy,’ but there’s so much more to it,” she said. “I think about titles like The Lies Always Told by Latina author Ambar Cordova that beautifully capture Dominican culture, and Long Shot by Kennedy Ryan that addresses the physical abuse women endure. These are the kinds of books I want to offer .. stories that can help others the way they helped me.”
By centering books that reflect identity and resilience, Anderson hopes to provide readers with stories that empower and validate their experiences. “Reading these books was like the first time I felt like someone had put my experience into words,” she said.
Comfort in fiction isn’t new for Anderson. Born in the Dominican Republic, she moved to Florida at age 6, navigating English as a second language while watching her mother work three jobs. When she tagged along to house-cleaning gigs, homeowners sometimes let her borrow books from their shelves.
“Those books really helped me learn English. They gave me a balance and shaped who I’ve become,” she said.
Much of Anderson’s upbringing helped her find purpose in Mis Amores. The space is a lifelong dream in helping others feel at home.
“When I was younger, I suffered many years of abuse, and I had told myself that if I lived long enough, my dream was to open a space for women and kids. This is my way of doing that. It’s my way of giving back.”
Coffee also became a symbol of belonging. When her mother couldn’t bring her along to work, she often spent afternoons with her neighbor, Gladys, who brewed strong, sweet coffee and talked to Anderson in a way that stayed in her memory throughout her life.
“She made me feel important just by listening, I felt seen,” Anderson said. “That’s what I want this place to feel like for others, a space where your presence matters.”
During her opening journey, Anderson also found community support when she reached out to The Bottom, another Black-owned bookstore in the city, whose founders were ready to jump in and help her bring her vision to life.
“That support and those connections really helped me along the way, and I think that’s what’s important in our community that we find a way to help each other,” she said.
Mis Amores spans nearly 7,000 square feet and features a full kitchen, sofas, tables, and plenty of meeting space, hinting at future expansions. Part of the shop is devoted to all things coffee, with a full bar and beans sourced directly from the Dominican Republic. Espresso drinks, served from traditional moka pots, include tres leches and flan lattes. Cold brew and iced coffee are available on tap, and hot chocolate, including a playful Pink Velvet version Anderson has been perfecting, is also on the menu. She plans to gradually introduce food items, starting with Dominican staples and seasonal treats.
The bookshelves feature romance and fantasy, highlighting BIPOC authors, disabled and LGBTQ+ writers, voices Anderson rarely saw in bookstores growing up.
“In the literary sense, I hope it encourages other bookstores to front-list books that are typically at the bottom or back of the shelves. These are all the books I always put front and center, and I hope it encourages others to do the same and show publishing that books like these actually do sell,” she said.
As a Black and Latina business owner in Tennessee navigating a challenging social and political climate, she said she views the bookstore not only as a source of personal pride but also as a beacon to inspire the next generation to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams.
Opening the store was a labor of persistence, but worth it.
“There’s always going to be hurdles,” Anderson said. “All of the red tape is the hardest part. It took me eight months to get a place and sign a lease. I would see a space, fall in love with it, and then be told it wasn’t a fit for a girl like me. Those are the hurdles you face as a Black Latina woman.”
But Anderson said the hurdles just add to the motivation.
“As Black women, there are a lot of times where we are made to feel less than and to be nothing, and to have ownership… it brings a lot of power and a sense of belonging,” she said. “We still belong here. We’re still incredibly smart and strong.”
Her drive comes from a deep sense of purpose and advice she gives to others, hoping to launch their own businesses.
“Sometimes loving what you do isn’t enough. If you have a purpose and a reason why, that’s what carries you through the hard days,” Anderson said.
That purpose is rooted in creating a safe, affirming environment for those who often feel unseen. “I wanted a space where people can authentically be themselves. They don’t have to hide the little things that make them special. They don’t have to speak perfect English or hide who they love,” she said.
As part of its future programming, Mis Amores plans to host monthly events, author talks, and a book club, as well as offer Pay-What-You-Can English, Spanish, and ASL courses. The bookstore will also provide a welcoming space for students from the now-closed University of Tennessee Pride Center, including transportation for those who need it.
Anderson envisions the bookshop as a community hub, a place where both private and group gatherings can take root. “We’ll have a reservation system for anyone who wants to rent the space, and we can also collaborate to host events together,” she said. “I hope that it serves as a model for others to create their own spaces, and encourages bookstores across the country to put these books front and center, showing that these stories not only sell, but need to be told.”
Representation has already had a tangible impact.
“Seeing the belief from people. That’s what is beautiful. I had a reader cry because it was the first time she ever saw a Filipina female main character on the cover of a book. She said, ‘I’ve never seen a book with somebody that looked just like me, that had my heritage and identity.’ It was one of my most meaningful moments through all of this and let me know I’m doing something right,” Anderson said.
Visitors can stop by Mis Amores any day of the week: Sundays from 12 to 5 p.m., Wednesdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1 to 8 p.m., Fridays from 1 to 9 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.