Bat N Rouge is Purchased, Moves, and Expands
If there has been a theme to the business news over the last year in the downtown area, it has been one of acquisitions and expansions. Bat N Rouge, opened by Haley Hancock in 2015 in...
Business
The Brewing and Distilling Center Expands
It’s a story we’ve seen repeated several times before as we’ve looked at business responses to the pandemic: Many businesses have taken the opportunity to make bold moves to prepare for an exciting post-pandemic Knoxville. I...
530 Lounge Opens With New Spring Menu
The 530 Lounge, which officially opened on top of the Hyatt Place Hotel for the spring on Wednesday, offered a sneak peak on Monday and Tuesday to invited guests. As my initial article was written before...
Bullman’s South Opens on Sevier
Terry Bullman’s name is familiar to many in Knoxville. He moved here in 1997 and lived downtown for many years before moving to his current home in Old North. After fighting in tough man competitions, he...
Java Racer Set to Open on Jackson Avenue
When the pandemic passes and area residents and tourist stream once more into downtown, they are going to have a lot of catching up to do. Businesses continue to open and expand, continuing the downtown boom...
Knox Selfie Lab Coming to 906 Sevier Avenue
An immersive destination experience is coming to 906 Sevier Avenue, when Knox Selfie Lab opens below Hi Wire Brewing. Patrons can expect 12-18 fully interactive photo labs, with sets changing at least quarterly. The business...
Bernadette’s Crystal Gardens Dazzles at Every Turn
Scott West’s telling of the saga of Bernadette’s Crystal Gardens is a telling of intentions, some of them very good, which all went awry in different directions. It started with his pronouncement, in the original June...
A Very Different Babalu to Open This Week Under New Ownership
Fun times are once more awaiting at Babalu on Gay Street. The restaurant, originally opened in November 2015, announced its permanent closure in the early days of the pandemic last year. After a very brief interlude,...
400 Block Merchants Respond to Changes in Promenade Garage
A few weeks ago, I wrote about changes to the Promenade Garage. The Knoxville Utilities Board, which owns the garage, recently changed management from the Public Building Authority to Premier Parking. Ending its agreement with the...
How Well Has Knoxville Tourism Survived the Pandemic?
We all remember last March when hotels suddenly emptied and it seemed the world stopped traveling all at once. There was no way to anticipate what awaited in the coming months, but serious changes were clearly...