OliBea is gone, but fans could still get a taste of its famous biscuits
Correction: A previous version of this article misstated The Beatles' history. The band was active for nine years. We regret the error.
The Beatles were active for about nine years. "Seinfeld" ran for nine seasons. OliBea served Knoxville for nine years.
Although the restaurant has served its last biscuit, OliBea will probably live on in some form, owner Jeffrey Dealejandro told Knox News. It just might be in the form of a cookbook or retail products.
"I knew we had something special and it was a cool spot, but like it was just unbelievable (to) fathom the support and love that I've got. It's unbelievable," Dealejandro said of OliBea's final day (for now) as a restaurant.
He decided to close the restaurant to spend more time with his kids. He was stressed from operating OliBea and Hen+Hoc Butcher Shop before it closed. He lost his grandmother, who was the main inspiration for the restaurant. And he's getting older.
"I want to be in the moment, and be a good partner to my wife and a good dad," Dealejandro said while seated on the patio of OliBea after it closed. "And me turning 40. Not to sound like a total cliché, but, like, I had my birthday and I was with them, away from work and I was like, 'I can do anything in life to make money and have a job. I just want … my kids and my wife to be my priority.'"
Is OliBea closed forever?
Dealejandro is keeping the OliBea brand and the building. While he might have plans for it in the future, the restaurant space will be leased to SmashCity Knoxville.
"(OliBea is) named after my kids, and maybe Oliver or maybe Beatrice will own a restaurant one day, and I'll give it to them in a heartbeat," Dealejandro said. "Or maybe if I can do these other things I'm thinking about and still carry on this OliBea thing that's created such a cool thing to have in Knoxville."
He's toying with cementing the OliBea grandmother's house vibe by letting Knoxville make his recipes in the comfort of their own homes with the help of a cookbook.
After years of specials, he has a long list of recipes that "haunts me at night," Dealejandro said. "I have to get it on a piece of paper, and I think it's gonna be very therapeutic for me."
"I feel like that could be a good gift back to Knoxville and to people that love the food here. Let them do it in their house. I don't have any secrets to hide."
The future of OliBea could come in other forms too: maybe pancake and biscuit mixes sold in grocery stores. Maybe a retail store or even reopening OliBea in the future.
"Anything's possible," he said.
For now, the restaurant space will be rented out to SmashCity Knoxville, which is leaving Marble City Market food hall. The burger joint is slated to open Aug. 11.
What's next for Jeffrey Dealejandro?
Dealejandro is starting a new career after 18 years in the restaurant industry. He's gotten his real estate license and is working in residential and commercial real estate with Jeffrey Nash of development company The Courtland Group.
Dealejandro said he'd like to help up-and-coming chefs find their restaurant spaces while he works a job that's over at the end of the day.
"It's been fun and not work to me, like the restaurant was. So I've been doing that for the last really year and just learning so much," Dealejandro told Knox News.
Dealejandro will walk away from the restaurant business with some key lessons learned. He's tried to treat people with kindness, even grumpy customers waiting for a table.
He's learned to treat others how he'd like to be treated. And he's learned being clear and direct leads to a better working environment, in and out of the kitchen.
The other Knoxville restaurants Dealejandro loves
Dealejandro said he'll be excited to sit back, relax and enjoy a meal at some of downtown Knoxville's other restaurants. To name a few:
Potchke Deli by Laurence Faber and Emily Williams. Fortunately, the deli has decided to remain open through this year, so he can get a Lox Bialy or Matzhoh Ball Soup any time.
A Dopo by Brian Strutz, which continues to see success with a recent top spot on Yelp and a shoutout in Bon Appetit.
Kaizen, Tako Taco and Red Panda Grocery by Jesse Newmister, who is one of Dealejandro's favorite chefs.
"In the next year or two, there's gonna be some really cool stuff going on in Knoxville. And I don't want to say it because I want Knoxville to keep its sweet vibe, because I think we'll be the best food town," Dealejandro said. "You know Nashville is cool, but we're gonna be a real competitor here in the next couple of years."
Keenan Thomas is a business growth and development reporter. Email keenan.thomas@knoxnews.com. Twitter @specialk2real.
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: OliBea is closed, but owner plans Knoxville restaurant cookbook
