Barbecue, burgers, Bad Ass Coffee: 15 restaurant and retail stories you don't want to miss
March comes to a close with restaurant and retail shakeups and developments around Knoxville.
A couple of hot new restaurants opened along Gay Street and Sevier Avenue, while a few restaurant owners turned their "closed" signs on for good. A new construction-based theme park is open in Pigeon Forge if you're looking to get your hands down in the dirt. Or you can look forward to a sweet doughnut shop opening near a groovin' wine bar.
Check out these 15 restaurant and retail stories you don't want to miss. And visit knoxnews.com for all the latest restaurant news.
The Humble Hog opens on Gay Street
After over a year of waiting, The Humble Hog finally opened its doors to barbecue and more Feb. 27 at 312 S. Gay St.
The restaurant serves its signature barbecued and smoked dishes for lunch and dinner. Owner Benjamin Grice sources ingredients locally and taps beer from Knoxville breweries. If that doesn't scream Tennessee, then the "Tennessee" sign integrated into a table will!
Sevier Avenue Burger Company replaces Simpl
Sevier Avenue Burger Company is open at 1120 Sevier Ave. in the former Simpl location next to Alliance Brewing Co.
The restaurant began welcoming customers Feb. 26 with smash burgers that cost no more than $13.
Hours are 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday and 11 a.m.-midnight Thursday through Saturday.
Surin of Thailand closed on Bearden Hill
Surin of Thailand closed on Bearden Hill at 6213 Kingston Pike. The restaurant locked its doors more than a month after owner Surin Techarukpong died Jan. 6.
Surin of Thailand has six other restaurant locations in Georgia and Alabama, but Knoxville will have to look elsewhere for Thai food.
Kern's Food Hall sets opening date with list of vendors
Kern's Food Hall has set an opening date of April 13 to give Knoxville a taste of what's cooking in the new food hall.
This opening marks the first wave for Kern's Food Hall with 11 vendors specializing in food, clothing, flowers, photos and manicures at 2201 Kerns Rising Way:
Archer Paper Goods
AVA Italian
Vella Crew Studio
Flourish Flowers
Hey Bear Cafe
Irvey’s Ice Cream
Mae Lee’s Boutique
Monday Night Brewing
Vol Nail Spa
Won Kitchen
Zukku Sushi
Kern's Food Hall will be open 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Cookie Plug opens first Knoxville location
Cookie Plug has opened its first Tennessee location in Knoxville.
The cookie franchise at 7653 Kingston Pike serves thick cookies, cookie ice cream sandwiches and cookie cakes. Cookie Plug opened March 2 next to Elements Massage and Firebirds Wood Fired Grill.
It's open noon-10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon-9 p.m. Sunday.
Dig'n Zone theme park digs up fun in Pigeon Forge
Construction theme park Dig'n Zone opened in Pigeon Forge at 1707 Veterans Blvd. March 1.
Featuring real construction equipment, the amusement park features 20 attractions for kids and adults to enjoy. Tickets cost $55 for kids and seniors, and $69 for adults.
It's generally 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily now, and will operate 10 a.m.-8 p.m. this summer.
Bad Ass Coffee says 'Aloha!' to Knoxville
Bad Ass Coffee will cross the Pacific Ocean from Hawaii to open three new locations in Knoxville.
First-time franchisees Jason and Karen Greene have four years to open three locations. They are searching for sites and considering downtown and West Knoxville to target University of Tennessee at Knoxville students.
At the earliest, the first location could open this fall in West Knoxville.
The Greens by Gypsy Circus celebrates grand opening
The Greens by Gypsy Circus celebrated its grand opening weekend in March.
The mini golf destination invites Oak Ridge to play and drink. Gypsy also operates Atomic City Brewing Company on location at 201 Tuskegee Drive. Playing one course costs $7 for kids and $9 for adults. Playing two courses costs $10 for kids and $12 for adults.
The Greens is open 4-9 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, noon-9 p.m. Saturday and noon-7 p.m. Sunday. It's closed Monday and Tuesday.
Kelly's Kitchen temporarily closes in West Knoxville
Kelly's Kitchen of Knoxville has closed at 9355 Kingston Pike. A sign on the door confirmed the closure, but added that Kelly's Kitchen will reopen in a new location.
An address or opening window wasn't noted, and the restaurant's social media platforms don't have an update. Knox News reached out to Kelly's Kitchen via phone and email, but has not received a response.
The restaurant served classic sandwiches like reubens, cheesesteaks and subs.
Sam & Andy's Fountain City closes
One of Knoxville's classic restaurants, Sam & Andy's, closed its Fountain City location at the end of February. The restaurant at 2613 Adair Drive had served the community for over 25 years.
Owner Chris Captain operated the restaurant, and will continue to operate the new Sam & Andy's Bexhill location at 1403 Bexhill Drive.
Red Panda Grocery will undergo some changes
On March 4, Red Panda Grocery announced an inventory sale to make room for changes to the bodega style grocery store and deli.
The Instagram post hints that Red Panda Grocery will add tables, chairs, an expanded breakfast menu and brunch to the inside.
Parlor Doughnuts coming to Knoxville
Parlor Doughnuts will expand into Knoxville with a new location coming soon. An opening date hasn't been set.
The doughnut shop will be located at 300 W. Magnolia Ave. Suite 110 next to The Double S Wine Bar, which reopened last year. Two former Olympic gymnasts, John Roethlisberger and John Macready, redeveloped the property in 2022.
Parlor Doughnuts has two locations in Nashville and one in Clarksville. Parlor serves speciality doughnuts, coffee and breakfast.
The S.E.A. opens in Marble City Market
The S.E.A. Ramen & Asian Kitchen opened in Marble City Market at 333 W. Depot Ave. The restaurant celebrated its grand opening March 21.
Dishes on the menu include ramen, pad thai and donburi. The restaurant is open 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
New owners acquire Bearden Beer Market
Bearden Beer Market closed Jan. 28, but planned to reopen soon with a facelift.
Michael Saporito II, Ashe’s Wines & Spirits owner Thad Cox Jr. and their silent partners bought Bearden Beer Market with plans to update the establishment at 4524 Old Kingston Pike. First, they'll change the name to Ashe's Bearden Beer Market.
Additional changes include new paint, fewer taps and more food once it reopens, tentatively by the end of March.
Paradise Que closes in Powell, owners start catering
The owners of Paradise Que, Greg and Melanie Edmonds, closed their restaurant Jan. 7 after a year and a half in business.
The restaurant at 1336 E. Emory Road served barbecue, poke bowls and Mexican dishes with a Hawaiian twist. The owners cited health reasons, stress and declining business based on the location for the closure.
They will continue to cook in Knoxville through their catering business, Delightful Diversions.
Keenan Thomas reports for the Knox News business growth and development team. You can reach him by email at keenan.thomas@knoxnews.com.
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Knoxville restaurant and retail news on coffee, doughnuts, barbeque
