Gone but not forgotten: Knoxville area restaurants and retailers we miss.

#3,276
#3,276
Thunder Good-Oil said:
Nothing says East TN like a shopping center for guns, tattoos, check advance, massage, hairdos, and a dance club & show bar
Click to expand...
True that, but in decades past, the Alcoa Way Center had somewhat better tenants. My picture above was from 2011, when the sign was still standing. That building is nearly empty now due to the direct access to Alcoa Highway being cut off.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MAD
#3,277
#3,277
MAD said:
My aunt worked at that Shoney’s back in the late 60’s. They had the drive in back then.
See on the marquee which movies are playing? I saw both Network and Rocky in those theaters that are listed in this photo.
Click to expand...
I saw “Earthquake” there. First movie, I believe, to have the animated sounds and vibrations broadcast throughout the theater.
 
  • Like
Reactions: feathersax and MAD
#3,281
#3,281
MAD said:
www.knoxnews.com

Another restaurant quietly closes near campus. This time, a popular bar for Tennessee fans

Fieldhouse Social owner Randy Burleson shared with Knox News more information about the closing, including how losing Walmart in 2019 played a role.
www.knoxnews.com

Click to expand...


Just an impossibly bad location. I've been there a handful of times when in town, including for the Heupel hiring conference which was nice to have on the giant screen, but the crowd never seemed student-focused which is a problem. They're so closed to campus/the sorority homes but a direct walking path (Cumberland doesn't count) would have been huge for Fieldhouse and even Walmart.
 
#3,282
#3,282
MAD said:
www.knoxnews.com

Another restaurant quietly closes near campus. This time, a popular bar for Tennessee fans

Fieldhouse Social owner Randy Burleson shared with Knox News more information about the closing, including how losing Walmart in 2019 played a role.
www.knoxnews.com

Click to expand...

Wonder what the new restaurant in Lenoir City will be?

www.knoxtntoday.com

Fieldhouse Social closes: Burleson explains - Knox TN Today

Fieldhouse Social, a Burleson Brand restaurant located at University Commons, closed its doors permanently over the Christmas holidays sparking a barrage of unfounded social media accusations and assumptions. I spoke with owner Randy Burleson who provided the details behind the decision...
www.knoxtntoday.com www.knoxtntoday.com
 
  • Like
Reactions: Boca Vol, orangebloodgmc and TrumpedUpVol
#3,286
#3,286
www.knoxtntoday.com

Ernie Gross Designs closes after 50 years - Knox TN Today

Mary Linda Schwarzbart contacted me last week saying, “Ernie Gross is closing his 50-year-old business. I told him people would enjoy his story.” She gave me his number and from his story, I believe her comment will be an understatement. Through our delightful conversation, I learned a...
www.knoxtntoday.com www.knoxtntoday.com
 
#3,287
#3,287
Freak said:
Wonder what the new restaurant in Lenoir City will be?

www.knoxtntoday.com

Fieldhouse Social closes: Burleson explains - Knox TN Today

Fieldhouse Social, a Burleson Brand restaurant located at University Commons, closed its doors permanently over the Christmas holidays sparking a barrage of unfounded social media accusations and assumptions. I spoke with owner Randy Burleson who provided the details behind the decision...
www.knoxtntoday.com www.knoxtntoday.com
Click to expand...
It's a new Aubrey's to replace the one that closed earlier this year.

There's also a new Brew Works going into downtown LC.
 
#3,289
#3,289
The Maltese Falcon was a bar, not really a restaurant.

Alberties’s and Naples were the same building.

Rathskeller’s in the back of Western Plaza was omitted as was Ivanhoe’s (which became the Copper Cellar/Cappuccino’s on Kingston Pike.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Ted, CPA and MAD
#3,290
#3,290
  • Like
Reactions: Ted
#3,291
#3,291
TrumpedUpVol said:
Just an impossibly bad location. I've been there a handful of times when in town, including for the Heupel hiring conference which was nice to have on the giant screen, but the crowd never seemed student-focused which is a problem. They're so closed to campus/the sorority homes but a direct walking path (Cumberland doesn't count) would have been huge for Fieldhouse and even Walmart.
Click to expand...

Yeah, that’s been my feel for it as well. Used to go there a decent bit when they opened and for certain games, but it never really felt like they knew what they were going for except for “here’s some beer and maybe some food”. And any outreach to students and campus was nonexistent. I asked my son (who is in year 2 at UT) if he ever goes over to Fieldhouse and he said it just “wasn’t a vibe”. I took that to mean it wasn’t a cool place for the college crowd to hang out.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MAD and TrumpedUpVol
#3,292
#3,292
Ted said:
Misaki restaurant is now closed and boarded up. It's at 8207 Kingston Pike. I remember going there for sushi and hibachi in the early 2000's when it was Miyabi. There was little said about their closing in the Knoxville media. They had closed in January 2022, but the boarding-up has happened recently.
Click to expand...

Ted said:
View attachment 512985
Click to expand...

Update, Jan. 2025: I was through there today, and noted that the Misaki building has been demolished. It probably happened in late December.

I discovered recently that the Misaki building was built by the then-owners of the Brass Rail restaurant in 1976, and opened as Brass Rail West. BRW closed the next year when the owners sold the property. It was a Mediterranean restaurant for a while, then changed hands and became Kyoto Steakhouse and Hibachi in the 90's. Kyoto became Miyabi for a long time, part of a southeastern chain of hibachi restaurants, then became Misaki in the early 2000's, supposedly because the owner did not want to continue paying the franchise fee.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: MAD
#3,293
#3,293
MAD said:
Also saw Bahou Container on Forest Avenue was on the list.
Anyone remember it?
View attachment 712040
Click to expand...

The Bahou brothers, Faud and Shawqi, operated several restaurants in Knoxville in the 70's. The main restaurant was Bahou, which was at 5200 Kingston Pike where Shuck used to be and where Harvest is located now. There was the original Bahou on Forest Avenue (as depicted on the eBay matchbook cover that Mad posted), and the Bahou Container, which was at 5213 Homberg Drive and was more of a health food and carry-out store. They also opened two locations in Atlanta, and had plans to open one in Houston, TX.

Faud was the head of the Knoxville College art department before turning his love of cooking into the restaurants bearing his name. He became quite the art collector.

The food at the Bahou restaurants was top-notch and won many culinary awards. I remember reading about the Bahous in the News-Sentinel growing up, but I never got to dine there. Surely someone on Gone But Not Forgotten remembers eating there!

The Bahous sold all their Knoxville businesses in 1983 and left the area at ages 45 to "see the world" and to pursue other business ventures. One of them moved back to Knoxville in retirement.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: orangebloodgmc, EasternVol and MAD
#3,294
#3,294
  • Like
Reactions: MAD
#3,295
#3,295
Thunder Good-Oil said:
Rathskeller’s in the back of Western Plaza was omitted as was Ivanhoe’s (which became the Copper Cellar/Cappuccino’s on Kingston Pike.
Click to expand...

Was Rathskeller's in the currently vacant standalone restaurant building in the back right corner of Western Plaza, the same space as the later Green Hills Grille and Blackhorse Brewery?
 
  • Like
Reactions: MAD
#3,296
#3,296
TN Jed said:
A lot of great restaurants on this list.....for me it's Sewnsons....silver spoon...Naples....well, I could go on 🙂...
Knoxville is still hungry for these restaurants of the past
Click to expand...
Regas, Grady's, Copper Cellar on the Strip and OCI especially hurt. I used to go eat at all of those in college or when my parents came in town and were taking me out. Long's is a shame. Loved that lunch counter. Lived at Hawkeyes since I lived literally next door to it in college. Cardin's drive in was great, always a solid burger. Helma's was a just a great diner. A lot of people don't know Edison Park Steakhouse, but I ate there a couple of times after I moved back to Knoxville in the early 2000's. It was really good. Not sure why it didn't make it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: orangebloodgmc, Ted and MAD
#3,297
#3,297
Ted said:
The Bahou brothers, Faud and Shawqi, operated several restaurants in Knoxville in the 70's. The main restaurant was Bahou, which was at 5200 Kingston Pike where Shuck used to be and where Harvest is located now. There was the original Bahou on Forest Avenue (as depicted on the eBay matchbook cover that Mad posted), and the Bahou Container, which was at 5213 Homberg Drive and was more of a health food and carry-out store. They also opened two locations in Atlanta, and had plans to open one in Houston, TX.

Faud was the head of the Knoxville College art department before turning his love of cooking into the restaurants bearing his name. He became quite the art collector.

The food at the Bahou restaurants was top-notch and won many culinary awards. I remember reading about the Bahous in the News-Sentinel growing up, but I never got to dine there. Surely someone on Gone But Not Forgotten remembers eating there!

The Bahous sold all their Knoxville businesses in 1983 and left the area at ages 45 to "see the world" and to pursue other business ventures. One of them moved back to Knoxville in retirement.
Click to expand...
Great find Ted. We ate at the Homberg location often. They had an outdoor eating area and indoor. They even expanded and put tables on the second floor. I’m gonna ask my parents what things we would eat there, but I know it was a great introduction to new cuisine in the Knoxville area.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ted
#3,298
#3,298
Ted said:
Was Rathskeller's in the currently vacant standalone restaurant building in the back right corner of Western Plaza, the same space as the later Green Hills Grille and Blackhorse Brewery?
Click to expand...

No. That structure was built as the replacement Half Shell after their original location at Mohican/Homberg burned.

Rathskeller was across the parking lot in the back of Western Plaza, Southeast of the Ice Chalet. That part of Western Plaza has been demolished.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MAD and Ted
#3,299
#3,299
Gold bricks, horses and Charlie Brown: The long, odd history of Pryor Brown Garage

www.knoxnews.com

Gold bricks, horses and Charlie Brown: The long, odd history of Pryor Brown Garage

Pryor Brown Garage was a bustling business for horses and cars. It's wrapped up in local legends. Now it will be torn down.
www.knoxnews.com



Downtown Knoxville's Pryor Brown Garage pictures through the years

www.knoxnews.com

Downtown Knoxville's Pryor Brown Garage pictures through the years

Downtown Knoxville's Pryor Brown Garage photos through the years.
www.knoxnews.com
 
  • Like
Reactions: TN-POSSUM and Ted
#3,300
#3,300
"Stepping back in 1970s Knoxville and relishing the memories" - A Cityview Magazine exclusive by Robert Pryor. Read this!

cityviewmag.com

A Panoramic Flashback

Stepping back in 1970s Knoxville and relishing the memoriesKnoxville has experienced considerable change over the last 50 years, and I have been lucky enough to have been an eyewitness to those changes as my hometown has developed and transitioned fr
cityviewmag.com cityviewmag.com
 
  • Like
Reactions: EasternVol and MAD
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top