Inside of Knoxville

West Family Takes a Tip of the Hat with New Hat Bar on Market Square (And It’s NOT a Bar!)

Knoxville Urban Guy·January 9, 2026

Downtown’s First Family of Bars (with a strong side of retail) has entered their latest venture with See Scruffy City, a Hat Bar and Souvenir Shop, at 27 Market Square. Notably, among their long list of...

Town Homes Planned for North Central (Former Site of the Dempster Building)

Knoxville Urban Guy·January 5, 2026

Long time readers may remember a story from 2019 in which I detailed plans to renovate and bring back to life the Dempster Building at 609-617 North Central Street. Then owned by Dewhirst Properties, they hoped...

Three Downtown Businesses Closing Brick & Mortar to Focus Elsewhere

Knoxville Urban Guy·December 4, 2025

I’ll admit upfront that these are a bit personal for me. I’ve long had relationships with two of the owners and the third business is extremely important for downtown, though I’m just not sure we are...

Former TVA Bank Building Becomes The Onyx; Development to Begin in Spring 2026

Knoxville Urban Guy·December 3, 2025

Imagine a story that involves a former bank, a Knoxville art gallery, New York art galleries, a boutique art hotel, an empty building, high-end shops, and the sale of seemingly unrelated buildings a mile away. There’s...

Major News for Knoxville: Women’s Suffrage Museum Coming to 706 Gay Street

Knoxville Urban Guy·November 6, 2025

A list of what to do in downtown Knoxville will get an intriguing new addition as the Suffrage Coalition announced that it has raised $2,000,000 to purchase 706 Gay Street, closing on the property at full...

AJ, Vintage Cal, and . . . Valet Parking?

Knoxville Urban Guy·October 28, 2025

We’ve all been waiting for news on a range of downtown projects and no two have been more anticipated (ok, maybe the tower on the river) than the AJ and Vintage Cal (formerly known as Marble...

From the Four Pennies to a Rockin’ 90th Birthday Party: An interview with John Myers

Knoxville Urban Guy·October 17, 2025

A dizzying 90-year journey that began in the tri-cities, intersected with the streets of downtown Knoxville in the 1940s, and took a detour through Motown Records, finds its way to a celebration tomorrow and you are...

Arts in Public Places Sculptures Brighten Up Fall in the City

Knoxville Urban Guy·October 6, 2025

Markers line the downtown year, often with splashes of color. Those markers announce the turning of years, the passage of time, and the advent of seasons. Trees green and flowers pop in the spring. Dogwoods bloom....

How Do We Build This City? Capitol Lofts Gets (Initial) Greenlight for Street Level Residential Zoning

Knoxville Urban Guy·September 12, 2025

What makes a vibrant downtown neighborhood? Lots of people, right? Well . . . imagine blocks of residential-only buildings. Lots of people in a dense area. But where do they get the goods and services they...

Downtown Knoxville Development Update, September 2025

Knoxville Urban Guy·September 11, 2025

It seemed enough time had passed to take a new look at major downtown construction sites, but when I glanced at the last article we published with updated photographs (in May), I’ll admit I was shocked....

West Family Takes a Tip of the Hat with New Hat Bar on Market Square (And It’s NOT a Bar!)

Town Homes Planned for North Central (Former Site of the Dempster Building)

Three Downtown Businesses Closing Brick & Mortar to Focus Elsewhere

Former TVA Bank Building Becomes The Onyx; Development to Begin in Spring 2026

Major News for Knoxville: Women’s Suffrage Museum Coming to 706 Gay Street

AJ, Vintage Cal, and . . . Valet Parking?

From the Four Pennies to a Rockin’ 90th Birthday Party: An interview with John Myers

Arts in Public Places Sculptures Brighten Up Fall in the City

How Do We Build This City? Capitol Lofts Gets (Initial) Greenlight for Street Level Residential Zoning

Downtown Knoxville Development Update, September 2025

2026 Festival (& Other Big Events) Planner

East Depot Avenue: Danger Company Moves Online + Last Days of Autumn Announces Closure

Knoxville Poetry Slam Provides a Brave Space for Over 30 Years

How to Get Your Visit Knoxville & WDVX Blue Plate Special Fix During Visitors Center Renovation

Meet ‘Hellmouth,’ Knoxville’s New Arts & Culture Magazine (& Movement)