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

[Vjcvette]

I know this will sound like a "Cliche'" but it does seem like it was only yesterday
that I was 21 sitting at that counter eating that wonderful Sunday!!

I can still picture that in my mind.

 

[MAD]

I know this will sound like a "Cliche'" but it does seem like it was only yesterday
that I was 21 sitting at that counter eating that wonderful Sunday!!

I can relate, I feel the same way.
You were cool, I never ate at the counter.

 

[Vjcvette]

I can relate, I feel the same way.
You were cool, I never ate at the counter.

Awwh....but you're cool anyway......

 

[Tin Man]

I remember the L&N.

 

[Tin Man]

What was the name of the BBQ place in west Knoxville in the 70s with the gravel parking lot? A bbq chicken sandwich was a bone-in piece of chicken between two slices of white bread…

 

[Vjcvette]

I remember the L&N.

Yep, me too....I actually played the piano in there one night......many years ago

 

[Vjcvette]

I can relate, I feel the same way.
You were cool, I never ate at the counter.

Awwh....Smokey...

 

[MAD]

Awwh....Smokey...

It’s cute isn’t it?

 

[Vjcvette]

It’s cute isn’t it?

Very...

 

[pismonque]

What long-gone dish do you crave from time to time? Which dining spot served the menu item that transported you back to your childhood?

For me it has to be Swiss Orange Chip ice cream from Swensen’s.

Okay, this is an obscure pull but I really liked the Spicy Pecan Rice at the old Silver Spoon restaurant in the shopping center on Kingston Pike where Chili's is. I think there's maybe a Tomato Head in the old SS spot now (which is itself just a weird thing to consider for us old-timers who were in our running-around days in the 80s/90s).

 

[MAD]

The cafeteria at Miller's Department Store at West Town Mall on March 11, 1972.

 

[MAD]

Kids meet with Santa at his Christmas Village display at Miller's Department Store in downtown Knoxville on December 4, 1978.

 

[MAD]

November 28, 1971 photo of the Christmas celebration at Miller's Department Store in downtown Knoxville on Henley Street.

 

[MAD]

A farmer's market at Rich's Department Store on Sept. 28, 1960.

 

[MAD]

Shoppers outside of the entrance to Proffitt's at West Town Mall on September 20, 1987.

 

[MAD]

Market Square Mall is shown during the Dogwood Arts Festival on May 14, 1974.

 

[Jackcrevol]

Shoppers outside of the entrance to Proffitt's at West Town Mall on September 20, 1987.

View attachment 604754

'now son, here's a Coke. Go run up and down the escalators, passing strangers smoking cigarettes with no adult supervision.'

 

[MAD]

'now son, here's a Coke. Go run up and down the escalators, passing strangers smoking cigarettes with no adult supervision.'

Those were the good old days.

 

[Jackcrevol]

Those were the good old days.

honestly it was being dropped off in a car with no seat belts or child restraints, saying here's $5, see you in two hours.

'but what about food?'

'ok, here's $7.'

 

[MAD]

honestly it was being dropped off in a car with no seat belts or child restraints, saying here's $5, see you in two hours.

'but what about food?'

'ok, here's $7.'

Back of a pickup truck

 

[SpecialKVolfan20]

Good times!!

 

[hUTch2002]

This isn’t the old school local diner thing but I do miss Charlie Peppers. Where else could you get wings and tacos? I think it was only in the bar area but you could get $1 tacos. A couple of those, some pineapple habanero wings and cold beer made for a great Saturday night!

 

[Ernest T. Vol]

November 28, 1971 photo of the Christmas celebration at Miller's Department Store in downtown Knoxville on Henley Street.

View attachment 604751

I used to go to the basement of Sears downtown and play on their mini-bikes and go-carts. There was a store security guy that would chase me out for twisting the throttles. He chased me off the escalators too. My mom just let me run wild in there.

 

[TN-POSSUM]

I used to go to the basement of Sears downtown and play on their mini-bikes and go-carts. There was a store security guy that would chase me out for twisting the throttles. He chased me off the escalators too. My mom just let me run wild in there.

*Name checks out

 

[Vjcvette]

Kids meet with Santa at his Christmas Village display at Miller's Department Store in downtown Knoxville on December 4, 1978.

View attachment 604750

Now every once in a while, wouldn't you like to go back to 1978 just for a little while....