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

[MAD]

Anyone remember Taco Rancho? There was a location in West Knox, near West Town Mall. Another in Chapman Hwy. Small little Taco Bell type joint. It may have been a drive thru only...I was a young lad during the 80s when they were around

I found this

Long Gone Knoxville Establishments

Okay I just got to thinking recently about some of the classic restaurants, stores and dives we have had in K-town. Just on the Pike from We...

timmus-memoriesofk-town.blogspot.com

Excerpt:
The first place that comes to mind just simply because I used to eat there so much with my old man is Taco Rancho on KP about a mile or so east of West Town. Man I loved that joint! The layout of the place was so unique (if memory serves me correct it was just like a big tee-pee sort of dining area with picnic-like benches outside) and the tacos, as I remember, were ten times better than the just arrived TBell. I do believe it was that vile Taco Bell in front of the former K-Mart building that put my beloved Rancho out of business! My memory is a bit hazy about when Taco Rancho officially ceased to be, but I'm thinking 1985 at the most. Oh how I long for the days of pulling into the drive-thru and getting a load of hard shells in their patented cardboard boxes. Delicious.

 

[Wireless1]

I found this

Long Gone Knoxville Establishments

Okay I just got to thinking recently about some of the classic restaurants, stores and dives we have had in K-town. Just on the Pike from We...

timmus-memoriesofk-town.blogspot.com

Excerpt:
The first place that comes to mind just simply because I used to eat there so much with my old man is Taco Rancho on KP about a mile or so east of West Town. Man I loved that joint! The layout of the place was so unique (if memory serves me correct it was just like a big tee-pee sort of dining area with picnic-like benches outside) and the tacos, as I remember, were ten times better than the just arrived TBell. I do believe it was that vile Taco Bell in front of the former K-Mart building that put my beloved Rancho out of business! My memory is a bit hazy about when Taco Rancho officially ceased to be, but I'm thinking 1985 at the most. Oh how I long for the days of pulling into the drive-thru and getting a load of hard shells in their patented cardboard boxes. Delicious.

I think Taco Rancho was owned/run by the Abbotts, came here from California???

 

[MAD]

Not sure of the date, but here is an old list of restaurants in Knoxville that might trigger some memories.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

Anyone remember Taco Rancho? There was a location in West Knox, near West Town Mall. Another in Chapman Hwy. Small little Taco Bell type joint. It may have been a drive thru only...I was a young lad during the 80s when they were around

Taco Rancho was awesome and was pretty much the only fast Mexican option in Bearden for decades. Plus they had beer. The little one on Chapman Highway was a good spot as well. It did have a dining room.

 

[feathersax]

Not sure of the date, but here is an old list of restaurants in Knoxville that might trigger some memories.

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THANKS! This list indeed bring back memories. There was an Italian restaurant on Kingston Pike we loved, too. Can you help? I recall it was a white building with green neon sign.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

THANKS! This list indeed bring back memories. There was an Italian restaurant on Kingston Pike we loved, too. Can you help? I recall it was a white building with green neon sign.

Albertie’s/Naples? KP at Homberg.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

Taco Rancho on KP. 1985 aerial photo.

Going west:
(1) Michael’s
(2) Burger King
(3) Taco Rancho (outlined in red).

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

I might have posted it long ago - Mini Deli. On Kingston Pike near West Hills/Deane Hill (the neighborhood, not DH Drive). It was across from the Wendy’s. Mini Deli had 2, maybe 3 booths. The guy that ran it always wore a paper hat that said Metz and Boots or something. His supplier I believe.

Speaking of Wendy’s, there was a knock off just west of Bearden High School called Judy’s. It didn’t last long. Wendy’s might have sued and shut them down.

 

[feathersax]

Albertie’s/Naples? KP at Homberg.

Alberti's! That's the one. Thank you, Thunder!

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

Alberti's! That's the one. Thank you, Thunder!

They had a live lobster tank just inside the front door. The ceiling also had stars and planets painted with fluorescent paint IIRC.

Most people know that spot as Naples. Sadly it was bulldozed several months ago.

 

[feathersax]

They had a live lobster tank just inside the front door. The ceiling also had stars and planets painted with fluorescent paint IIRC.

Most people know that spot as Naples. Sadly it was bulldozed several months ago.

Had forgotten that Alberti's had become Naples. I do recall the lobster tank. Enjoyed several meals there in the 80s. Good times don't always last.

 

[Ernest T. Vol]

Not sure of the date, but here is an old list of restaurants in Knoxville that might trigger some memories.

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Let's head to Casa tonight for a few 'why nots' and then we can just float down to Michaels about 11 pm and see what we can find.

 

[Ted]

How many of you have been out Central Avenue Pike out past the intersection with Callahan Rd. and Dante Rd.? If you have, do you know the place where the owner has all kinds of interesting, eccentric stuff out out in the yard? Flying saucers, flags, all kinds of stuff? It looks like the address is 6980 Central Avenue Pike.

I was out that way yesterday taking things to the Knox Co. convenience center (cooking oil, batteries, etc. that Knoxville's centers don't take) and was aghast to see a monster development going in out there up the hollow from the house I mentioned above. I just did a screen capture from Google Maps from September 2023 that shows what is going on here.

I just wonder about the person who lives in this house. I remember all the things out in the yard since I've been in Knoxville, 25 years now. Whoever it is has to be in their 80's. It's the ultimate case of losing your house and your life to developers of property next door.

We are losing old Knoxville and Knox County so quickly. All over.

 

[Ted]

Not sure of the date, but here is an old list of restaurants in Knoxville that might trigger some memories.

Mad, that is a terrific list! There will be a lot of postings to come. Where in the heck did you find that?

Also, when did you change your Volnation name to MAD?

 

[Ted]

One other posting tonight for me. I wanted to ask if those of you posting in "Gone but not forgotten" that live in the Knoxville area ever get together for drinks and just hang out? I can't imagine that you haven't. That would be a lot of fun, all the way around!

 

[Ace]

How many of you have been out Central Avenue Pike out past the intersection with Callahan Rd. and Dante Rd.? If you have, do you know the place where the owner has all kinds of interesting, eccentric stuff out out in the yard? Flying saucers, flags, all kinds of stuff? It looks like the address is 6980 Central Avenue Pike.

I was out that way yesterday taking things to the Knox Co. convenience center (cooking oil, batteries, etc. that Knoxville's centers don't take) and was aghast to see a monster development going in out there up the hollow from the house I mentioned above. I just did a screen capture from Google Maps from September 2023 that shows what is going on here.

I just wonder about the person who lives in this house. I remember all the things out in the yard since I've been in Knoxville, 25 years now. Whoever it is has to be in their 80's. It's the ultimate case of losing your house and your life to developers of property next door.

We are losing old Knoxville and Knox County so quickly. All over.

I do not live in Knoxville, but I visit often. I have seen that UFO for years

 

[MAD]

Mad, that is a terrific list! There will be a lot of postings to come. Where in the heck did you find that?

Also, when did you change your Volnation name to MAD?

This is the paper I found that had the list

https://trace.tennessee.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=5459&context=utk_graddiss

Just about a month ago changed it to MAD

Also, getting together to reminisce sounds like fun. Y’all should organize something.
Next time up in Knoxville, I’ll join you.

 

[ArdentVol]

Alberti's! That's the one. Thank you, Thunder!

an old family favorite

 

[Vjcvette]

Not sure of the date, but here is an old list of restaurants in Knoxville that might trigger some memories.

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Hey I didn't see Hannah's or Jeremiah's on that list....can't forget them~~and of course Time Out Deli on Kingston Pike...that was my first job at 17 and then
I worked and Jeremiah's when I was 19 and 20.

 

[MAD]

Hey I didn't see Hannah's or Jeremiah's on that list....can't forget them~~and of course Time Out Deli on Kingston Pike...that was my first job at 17 and then
I worked and Jeremiah's when I was 19 and 20.

I ate a few times at Hannah’s, not sure when they closed.

 

[Vjcvette]

I ate a few times at Hannah’s, not sure when they closed.

oh ok

 

[JL24]

Daddy Mac's, formerly Wild Wing Cafe, in Farragut closed suddenly.

Wasn't the best food, but loved the venue.

Would go 3-4 times a year to see a band we loved.

So convenient with the motel right across the street.

Hopefully, it comes back again.

 

[Ted]

I never went to the Wild Wing Cafe in Farragut as it was too far to drive for me for what it was, but I did go to the one that's still open in Powell once to hear a band that a friend of mine plays in. Wasn't terribly impressed by the wings or the atmosphere. But it sure was popular for quite a while after it opened.

My favorite defunct wings places were the old, original Spicy's in the Old City, and the last location of Spicy's at 950 E. Emory Rd in Powell. I also ate a lot of wings and played a lot of trivia (on the NTN Network) 20 years ago at the long-gone Buffalo Wild Wings, on the Strip.

Here's a Flickr page about Spicy's with a bit of history. I did not know they started during the World's Fair, and that their original location was on the Strip! Does anyone remember Spicy's at the World's Fair, or know where that Strip location was?

Also, I can't find online where Spicy's was located in the Old City. Anybody know?

 

[UT_Dutchman]

I never went to the Wild Wing Cafe in Farragut as it was too far to drive for me for what it was, but I did go to the one that's still open in Powell once to hear a band that a friend of mine plays in. Wasn't terribly impressed by the wings or the atmosphere. But it sure was popular for quite a while after it opened.

My favorite defunct wings places were the old, original Spicy's in the Old City, and the last location of Spicy's at 950 E. Emory Rd in Powell. I also ate a lot of wings and played a lot of trivia (on the NTN Network) 20 years ago at the long-gone Buffalo Wild Wings, on the Strip.

Here's a Flickr page about Spicy's with a bit of history. I did not know they started during the World's Fair, and that their original location was on the Strip! Does anyone remember Spicy's at the World's Fair, or know where that Strip location was?

Also, I can't find online where Spicy's was located in the Old City. Anybody know?

View attachment 595645

I remember the one on the strip being down the street from O'Charleys. Also Bill one of the owners of Spicys north opened Wings Express on Clinton hwy near merchants. It has the same wings and is not a bad little joint. I heard the owner of Archers had a nervous breakdown. I drive by that weird azz house with the spaceship and flamingos every day on my way to and from work.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

I never went to the Wild Wing Cafe in Farragut as it was too far to drive for me for what it was, but I did go to the one that's still open in Powell once to hear a band that a friend of mine plays in. Wasn't terribly impressed by the wings or the atmosphere. But it sure was popular for quite a while after it opened.

My favorite defunct wings places were the old, original Spicy's in the Old City, and the last location of Spicy's at 950 E. Emory Rd in Powell. I also ate a lot of wings and played a lot of trivia (on the NTN Network) 20 years ago at the long-gone Buffalo Wild Wings, on the Strip.

Here's a Flickr page about Spicy's with a bit of history. I did not know they started during the World's Fair, and that their original location was on the Strip! Does anyone remember Spicy's at the World's Fair, or know where that Strip location was?

Also, I can't find online where Spicy's was located in the Old City. Anybody know?

View attachment 595645

I’d never heard that Spicey’s started at the World’s Fair. Petro’s did and originally sold them in Frito’s bags.

The L&N Fish place was started by Ruby Tuesday (Morrison’s) at the 1982 WF, but that concept never got traction.

I loved Wok Hay and wish that RT had never bought them (and shuttered them a few years later).