Inside of Knoxville

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....

A Peek Inside Axle Logistics’ New HQ II

Knoxville Urban Guy·August 11, 2025

We’ve brought you many updates along the way of the construction of Axle’s second Headquarters building on Central (HQ2). The photographs showed the exterior of the building taking shape as designed by DIA and constructed by...

Inside the 612 Building: A Look at the Progress

Knoxville Urban Guy·July 30, 2025

The journey is well underway for the completion of the largest project undertaken by the Tennessee Theatre since their 2004 $29 million renovations. The cost of the complete renovation of and connection to the adjacent 612...

Downtown Knoxville Veterinary Opens at 27 Emory Place

Knoxville Urban Guy·July 16, 2025

Downtown Knoxville in 2025 has lots of things: Lots of bars, restaurants, hotels, condos and more. But amid all of that, a simple walk around the downtown or neighboring areas is sure to reveal the obvious:...

Deconstructing Landscapes Debuts at Lilienthal Gallery

Knoxville Urban Guy·July 11, 2025

Traditional art often focuses on landscapes and, as much as any place on earth, East Tennessee offers some of the most beautiful landscapes available for artists to capture, as they have done for generations. But has...

Downtown Hotel Updates: The Facts (Not the Myths, Rumors & Gossip)

Knoxville Urban Guy·July 8, 2025

There’s lots of hotel talk around downtown. Some of it is true. Some? Meh. One company, Vector Hospitality, Inc, previously announced the construction of three hotels: an AC by Marriott on Walnut, a Tempo by Hilton...

Award-Winning Knoxville Fine Violins Grows, Approaches Fifth Anniversary

Knoxville Urban Guy·July 7, 2025

It’s one of many misses on my part, as I confessed to Wesley Rule, co-owner (along with his wife Lauren) of Knoxville Fine Violins at 207 Clinch Avenue. When he opened in the heart of the...

Bijou, BBQ & the Soul Sounds of Ms. Mavis Staples (Plus a Dose of Future Bijou Plans!)

Knoxville Urban Guy·June 19, 2025

On Saturday, June 28, the Bijou Theatre offers its annual Jubilee celebration and fundraiser presented by the Lawson Family Foundation. Each year the event celebrates the history of our beautiful little jewel box concert hall, delivers...