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

[DrRosenRosen]

Ran across this pic today. From the Bearden 79 yearbook ads section.

 

[MAD]

Ran across this pic today. From the Bearden 79 yearbook ads section.
View attachment 722629

This photo is fantastic.

I was at Bearden Jr High 9th grade that year.

 

[Ted]

Margie Ison has passed away. Such sad news for east Tennessee. Everyone loved her!

She worked at WBIR from 1979 to 1995. Did any of you get to meet her? I never got to, but always adored her.

WBIR.com article: Longtime WBIR weather personality Margie Ison dies at 84

Margie's obituary





It's amazing to watch the video and see how much TV weather broadcasting has changed since Margie was on the air.

 

[TN Jed]

Margie Ison has passed away. Such sad news for east Tennessee. Everyone loved her!

She worked at WBIR from 1979 to 1995. Did any of you get to meet her? I never got to, but always adored her.


WBIR.com article: Longtime WBIR weather personality Margie Ison dies at 84

View attachment 722643



It's amazing to watch the video and see how much TV weather broadcasting has changed since Margie was on the air.

Gut punch, for sure. She came and spoke to my elementary school. Really nice lady.

 

[MAD]

This is a fun listen.

They discuss the old days of West Town Mall

 

[Hurley Mooncalf]

Margie Ison has passed away. Such sad news for east Tennessee. Everyone loved her!

She worked at WBIR from 1979 to 1995. Did any of you get to meet her? I never got to, but always adored her.


WBIR.com article: Longtime WBIR weather personality Margie Ison dies at 84

View attachment 722643



It's amazing to watch the video and see how much TV weather broadcasting has changed since Margie was on the air.

Saw her multiple times over the years at the Fountain City post office, guess she lived close. She would chat you up in line like an old friend.

 

[MAD]

Check out this article from Knoxville News:

History of West Town Mall: Hess's and Miller's are long gone, but the mall endures

History of West Town Mall: Hess's and Miller's are long gone, but the mall endures

Remember the days before the Cinebarre? The era when built-in planters and trees lined the mall's walkways? Take a deeper look at West Town's past.

www.knoxnews.com

 

[Ted]

Check out this article from Knoxville News: History of West Town Mall: Hess's and Miller's are long gone, but the mall endures

Very good read. It would have been nice if the reporter had continued the article on past the 70's, though. There is a lot more history of West Town, but it can be found elsewhere.

I had forgotten that "three birds" logo for West Town:

I wish Simon had continued their ownership and management of East Towne Mall and not sold it off into the ruinous hands of the subsequent owners.

 

[Ernest T. Vol]

Check out this article from Knoxville News:

History of West Town Mall: Hess's and Miller's are long gone, but the mall endures

History of West Town Mall: Hess's and Miller's are long gone, but the mall endures

Remember the days before the Cinebarre? The era when built-in planters and trees lined the mall's walkways? Take a deeper look at West Town's past.

www.knoxnews.com

I'd like an Orange Julius about now.

 

[tbh]

Dunno if this has been posted in some form before, but I saw this link to some great historical maps of the Knoxville area and figured I'd share.

Historical Image Viewer

www.kgis.org

 

[Ted]

I'd like an Orange Julius about now.

I would too! Weren't they great back in the 80's? One would be splendid right now!

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

I liked the Orange Bowl. Pizza by the slice.

West Town didn’t have a food court initially. That space was Frankenberger’s and surface parking.

West Town Mall: Knoxville, TN

Knoxville is not one of the most recognized areas retail-wise, and indeed I have heard comparatively little about it compared to other citie...

skycity2.blogspot.com

 

[@1RBFjr]

I would too! Weren't they great back in the 80's? One would be splendid right now!

Denton's on Kingston Pike nearby has a pretty good one.

 

[UT_Dutchman]

I liked the Orange Bowl. Pizza by the slice.

West Town didn’t have a food court initially. That space was Frankenberger’s and surface parking.

West Town Mall: Knoxville, TN

Knoxville is not one of the most recognized areas retail-wise, and indeed I have heard comparatively little about it compared to other citie...

skycity2.blogspot.com

We grew up with an Orange Biwl in the Kingsport Mall, good pizza

 

[MAD]

We grew up with an Orange Biwl in the Kingsport Mall, good pizza

It’s where all the cool kids hung out

 

[MAD]

Check out this article from Knoxville News:

Taco Bell x2: Two stories on the Strip and a drive-thru only planned for South Knoxville

Taco Bell x2: Two stories on the Strip and a drive-thru only planned for South Knoxville

As Taco Bell eyes Chapman Highway in Knoxville, the fast food chain is preparing to reopen on the Strip. At the center of both projects: a drive-thru.

www.knoxnews.com

 

[MAD]

 

[MAD]

Check out this gallery from Knoxville News:

Decade in Knoxville: 1970-1979. Photos through history of East Tennessee

A Decade in Knoxville: 1970-1979. See photos from the archives!

See pictures found in the News Sentinel archives from 1970-1979 in Knoxville and East Tennessee.

www.knoxnews.com

 

[orangebloodgmc]

Check out this gallery from Knoxville News:

Decade in Knoxville: 1970-1979. Photos through history of East Tennessee

A Decade in Knoxville: 1970-1979. See photos from the archives!

See pictures found in the News Sentinel archives from 1970-1979 in Knoxville and East Tennessee.

www.knoxnews.com

Wow. That all looked so familiar. I was at UTK '73-77, then moved back to Knoxville to work there '79-82. Thanks for showing us all that.

 

[MAD]

@Ted

I found this very fascinating.

 

[MAD]

Found this post on Reddit.

“I grew up in West Knoxville, and my parents would drop my sisters and me off at West Town Mall where we would play arcade games at Play Palace, which went through several different owners and names. We’d always get pastries at Tiffany’s bakery, which we’d sometimes enjoy with a drink from Orange Julius. The anchor tenants, Sears, JC Penny’s and Miller’s all had toy departments, and Sears had a killer candy counter. The parents would pick us up at Baskin Robbins.

As a teen I worked at the McDonald’s on Kingston Pike near Papermill, and we would trade meals with nearby restaurants like the Taco Rancho (a/k/a “ Tacky Raunchy,” the Pizza Inn and the Smoky Mountain Market across the street. Back then they sold a chicken sandwich called “the rooster” with a small drink for 99 cents. I figure there has to be some place in town that still sells them, but I haven’t found one. If anyone knows of one please share.

On campus the strip had a lot more personality than it does now, and most of the businesses were mom and pop establishments. Sam and Andy’s, with the orange and white cow on the roof was a favorite. It was divided into three parts, the main restaurant, the deli and the Roman Room, which was my dad’s favorite. (Their veal parm is one of my favorite meals, and you can still get it at the Sam and Andy’s out west.) George Captain was usually at the helm, and would insist on feeding you even if you had no money. Dude has a phenomenal memory. I ran into him at Greekfest about ten years ago, and he not only greeted me by name, he asked about dad, by name. Someone already mentioned Vic and Bill’s, a law school favorite. There was also the Quarterback restaurant operated by Pete and his family. They moved to Papermill before eventually closing. The Old College Inn was another favorite. Someone else mentioned Hawkeye’s. I have a friend that worked there that we still call “Yam Chips” behind her back.

Some other old Knoxville haunts I recall include The Mexicali Rose on Bearden Hill. It looked terrible on the outside, but their food was wonderful. My mom liked the Bahoo Container at Homberg Place. We frequented Alberti’s and then Naple’s in the same building. Dad loved Pero’s and The Wrangler.”

 

[Zues1]

Who remembers where the Wiener King locations were. I recall Magnolia and Broadway.

 

[MAD]

Who remembers where the Wiener King locations were. I recall Magnolia and Broadway.

This is all I could find online.

“Weiner King opened several stores in the Knoxville area around 1976 or so, but IIRC, all the stores had closed within 6 months to a year after opening.”