Today we continue our Urban Outposts series, highlighting local, small businesses, returning for our second visit on and around Chapman Highway. Check out Part 1 for the first three small businesses. Today, we visit Chef Mo’s Cafe and South Knox Event Space, The Sugar Queen, and Tea and Treasures.
Chef Mo’s Cafe and South Knox Event Space (131 E. Moody Ave)
Chef Mo’s Cafe and South Knox Event Space are a pair of businesses owned and operated by Chef Mo. Tucked into a shopping center just off Chapman Highway, the spaces are a part of Mo’s multi-faceted offerings that keep him busy year-round. His story follows a trail of classic restaurants in Knoxville.
Mo got his start as a dishwasher at Duff’s Smorgasboard on Merchant’s Drive to earn money in high school. From that start, he refined his craft at a Mexican restaurant followed by Grady’s Goodtimes Restaurant, where he picked up skills on the grill. He credits his 15 years at Italian Market and Grill as the place “the real learning came,” eventually becoming kitchen manager.
Mo started a catering business out of his apartment for two years with a chance trip to the original South Knox Big Lots leading him to his cafe. He explained, “I wasn’t looking for a place yet, but we were growing so fast. Time was coming quicker than we expected, so it just worked out perfect.”
Originally offering exotic foods, he got a reality check in South Knoxville. He found that dishes like lobster and shrimp weren’t selling, so he pivoted to food like chicken wings and hamburgers, a successful menu for the past 10 years.
The location primarily serves catering, estimated at 90% of his business. From January to March, Mo’s has a sharp slowdown in catering, especially with the lack of festivals. During those months, he leans into the restaurant business, which includes a drive-through window. During catering season, he runs limited hours.
I got to take advantage of his 10th Anniversary Special: ten dollars for an entree, two sides, a drink and a sampler of his homemade seasoning to use at home. Chef Mo added, “we’re doing 10 dollar meals for 10 year anniversary. It’s like giving back. People can save some money and still eat some great food.” I had one of my favorites, okra, along with chicken wings with his special seasonings (I picked the Secret Herb sample). Mo sells a 7 ounce size for just $8. He also sells desserts from Kingdom Treats, a local baker.
Customers come from all over with festivals extending his boundaries outside of Knoxville. He caters customized menus for weddings, churches and the University of Tennessee. Mo also taught at Austin-East High School to help students “cook the good basics where they can survive on their own when somebody’s not there” and extends those classes to in-store experiences for customers.
Mo sets up a “live action” class in the restaurant. He teaches and manages customers with sautée skillets two people at a time. He said, “I’m in the middle, directing them how to do it. You’re cooking your own food, and you’re eating your own food.” Groups can learn to cook dishes like Spicy Sambuca Chicken Pasta. The classes have been a hit with bachelorette parties, and customers can contact him to set up a session.
At the other end of the complex, Mo has an event space he rents out to groups. He provides catering for events and works with any budget. He finished by saying, “I want everybody to have the best food at the best price.” Hours vary for the store during festival and catering months. Check Mo’s social media for updates on hours and take advantage of the 10 Year Anniversary special!
Chef Mo’s Cafe: Website | Facebook
The Sugar Queens (Creamery and Doughnutry)
The Sugar Queen restaurants started in 2018 as a food truck focusing on homemade yeast donuts and soft pretzels after co-owners Staci Meyer, her mom and two sisters all decided to leave the medical field. On the cusp of opening their third site, Meyer their regular clientele allowed them to shift to their first brick and mortar, the Sugar Queen Creamery, right as the pandemic hit.
“We happened to stumble upon the old McLemore Florist building,” Meyer added. The building on Young High Pike went up for sale and after purchase and two years of renovation, Sugar Queen transitioned their concept. Meyer added, “Donuts are hard, and they take a lot of…time and attention. Shifting their to homemade ice cream from scratch, the Sugar Queen Creamery opened in 2022. Dollywood cut the food truck program this year, one of their last locations for their mobile business.
Still receiving regular requests for doughnuts, the family found a spot further down Chapman and opened in the Doughnutry in September, 2025. And, very soon, a second Sugar Queen Creamery will expand to the Belltown development in Powell.
The Sugar Queen Creamery (106 E Young High Pike)
Meyer said that she “grew up in Northern Indiana, and there are homemade ice cream places everywhere…on every corner you find a homemade ice cream place” adding that “it was hard to find a good hard scoop homemade ice cream. There are a couple in town that we love, but I just think it was a void here that we thought we could fill.” Meyers’ parents lived in South Knoxville when they were looking for a space and Meyer said that “we loved the building and fell in love with it, but it’s also…still affordable.” They felt that South Knoxville needed more spaces that families could hang out.
Adding an outdoor patio with space for children to play expanded seating beyond the 2,000 square foot building. Customers are often enjoying time outside as I drive by. A large parking area behind the building and displays on the front lawn provide practicality and charm. Meyer’s father placed his vintage truck with a Christmas tree during the recent holidays.
My favorite ice cream is always blueberry, but I tried a Rocky Road waffle cone during my latest visit, and the chocolate flavor was great. All of the ice cream, waffle cones and baked goods (I can’t wait to check out a pizza pretzel) are homemade on site from scratch. Meyer emphasized that they have turned away vendors offering mixes. The creamery sources ingredients from a local dairy for their custom ice cream flavors.
We also discussed the first Tennessee location of Big Air USA, a trampoline park that opened last week in the old Big Lots location. I can easily envision time at the trampoline park and ice cream afterwards for families (not before).
Bonus: I visited Big Air before it opened last week and captured some pictures. Urban Outposts is designed to cover local business. Big Air is a national chain, but it is going to have a positive impact on South Knoxville and the options offered to residents (and the local businesses around it). I’ve added a few pictures of the interior.
If you are in South Knoxville, stop by the Sugar Queen Creamery for some amazing ice cream or a pretzel. They are open Monday – Thursday, Noon to 9 PM; Friday-Saturday, Noon to 10 PM and closed Sundays.
The Sugar Queen Doughnutry (7201 Chapman Highway)
The Sugar Queen Doughnutry is a return to their food truck days. Expanding in South Knox in September, 2025, the new location features “donuts and coffee…that was our next adventure.” Beyond doughnuts and coffee, several menu items like cinnamon rolls, the Everything Bun and Three Little Pigs have been recently added. The building on Chapman was already in use as a restaurant and didn’t need a costly conversion. Ample parking and a drive-thru were also advantages. Drive-thru traffic is around 60% of their business with the remaining 40% walk-in. Like the Creamery, outdoor seating and a children’s area is available.
Donuts are fresh-made from scratch with employees coming in between midnight and 2 AM, depending on the day, and the entire process takes around three to four hours. Doughnuts are made with a potato starter and are yeast-based. The cinnamon rolls use the same potato base. The Doughnutry has also added custom breakfast menu items like the Three Little Pigs, which I tried. They offer salsa, custom mustard and brown sugar dipping sauces. The Everything Bun looked amazing as well.
Coffee is provided from a partnership between Autumn Ridge Roasters (drip) and Seed Coffee (espresso). John Williams owns Autumn Ridge and said that their current roasting facility on Sutherland Avenue works directly with producers so that they can “do it the right way” and follow fair trade practices that benefits local farmers. The Sugar Queen Doughnutry uses their First Light Blend for drip coffee and similarly uses Seed Coffee Company, who shares a roasting facility with Autumn Ridge, for their espresso blend.
The Sugar Queen Creamery – Belltown (4523 Market Bell Way)
A second Sugar Queen Creamery will open soon in the Belltown retail development in Powell. The new space is 1,000 square feet and shares the new development with K-Brew Coffee, Soccer Taco, Abridged Beer Company and more local businesses. Since the focus of this article is Chapman, we did not discuss deeper information; however, I took a photo of the new space. The Sugar Queens will stay based in South Knoxville.
Tea and Treasures (4104 Martin Mill Pike)
Since I started writing Urban Outposts articles, the number one request I’ve personally received has been for Tea and Treasures in South Knoxville. After a couple of visits, I understand why. This fascinating business carries a unique collection that fits its name. Owner Jenny Wolf told me about their offering after I explored the converted two-story home. Operating since 2007, the store carries a wide variety of teas as well as antiques, gifts, vintage items, local and regional art items from local artisans.
Art includes stained glass mosaics from Susan Watson Glass, tile coasters and magnets (I got amazing Disc Exchange and Kay’s Ice Cream coasters) from Set in Stone Sisters, pottery from Gap Greek Pottery and several local jewelry makers. For the home, the store features candles and vintage items throughout the store. Resident Artist Bobbye Edwards does hand-painted glassware and roofing slates.
A wide selection of tea is available and is sourced locally and around the United States. Several flavors from Harney and Sons in New York are available. I picked up a box of their Hot Cinnamon Spice, which I am drinking as I edit this article. One of the more fascinating provider is Skirted Soldier Tea from Pennsylvania, a woman and veteran-owned (retired Air Force) artisanal tea maker. 10% of all tea sales are donated to women’s veteran organizations. I’ve tried a couple of flavors, including Wild Blue Yonder, and I love the notations on the package (contains or does not contain “ammo” referring to caffeine content.
Wolf also sells Tonya Rea’s teas from her shop in North Knoxville and have their own blend custom created by Inner Perfect, just down the road on Chapman. Inner Perfect owner Meleah McCammon said they create custom blends for customers and worked with Tea and Treasures to achieve specific flavor profiles.
The store also sells coffee from Liberty or Death, a local roaster who also donates back to veteran’s and first responder organizations. And, they carry Dandy Blend, a Ohio-based coffee substitute made from Dandelion Root.
Wolf emphasized they are not a tea room (like the Kraken’s Cup). They do offer a complimentary tea when you visit, and you can sit on the front porch to sample the blend and take in a cool breeze or shop the store while sipping.
Wolf said that Tea and Treasures would be in business for 19 years in August. Growing up in South Knoxville and graduating from Young High School, Wolf is native to the area. She found the house that became Tea and Treasures as she helped her sister and brother-in-law with an estate sale. She had been looking at another location on Chapman but “fell in love with this place, though, even though it’s kind of off the beaten path.” They converted the location from residential to business over a year and a half.
Older customers have provided a base for her business; however, the store has recently captured the attention of UTK students, who come in for vintage clothes and household items. Wolf noted that candles were very popular with the UT students who are increasingly living in South Knoxville. She picks up visitors with out of state visitors who discover them while using backroads from the airport to downtown.
Tea and Treasures is open on Fridays and Saturdays from 11 AM to 4 PM. Each second Saturday from April to October, the store hosts a marketplace with outdoor vendors selling their creations, food trucks and music. The May Second Saturday will coincidence with Vestival, which is now walking distance from their shop.
Visit Tea and Treasures Online: Facebook || Instagram
Like Tea and Treasures, you can help us spotlight local businesses. Have an “urban outpost” suggestion? Leave it in the comments or email the editor at [email protected]. Read previous editions here.
Discover more from Inside of Knoxville
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.