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

[MAD]

Remember East Towne Mall? I think they called it Knoxville Center also.

What year did it open?

 

[VolAllen]

Remember East Towne Mall? I think they called it Knoxville Center also.

Was a big fan of the Hound Dogs right in the center. It was a tradition to hit that on the way into town before games. It’s strange to me that East Town didn’t make it.

 

[VolAllen]

Did anyone here ever go into the Howard Johnson’s bar called the Nook? The Ho Jo’s that is now currently a Hooters..

 

[MAD]

Was a big fan of the Hound Dogs right in the center. It was a tradition to hit that on the way into town before games. It’s strange to me that East Town didn’t make it.

What was Hound Dogs?

 

[2EastTnVols]

Butcher Shop at worlds fair park. My gf and future wife waited tables there in the mid 90s. Awesome steak, you could even cook your own if you wanted. She hated it when people did that because they felt they'd done all the work so would leave a crappy tip. Once a year they'd close early for employees Christmas party. Employees could invite whoever, all you could drink and karaoke. Some great times.

 

[VolAllen]

What was Hound Dogs?

It was a Vol shop. Had a great selection

 

[JCHateSteve]

Butcher Shop at worlds fair park. My gf and future wife waited tables there in the mid 90s. Awesome steak, you could even cook your own if you wanted. She hated it when people did that because they felt they'd done all the work so would leave a crappy tip. Once a year they'd close early for employees Christmas party. Employees could invite whoever, all you could drink and karaoke. Some great times.

That sounds like a great place to work.

 

[Ted]

The original Ruby Tuesday's was in the space above where Stefano's Pizza is today.

Actually, the original Ruby Tuesday's was at 1701 Cumberland Ave. on the UT end of "The Strip", on the corner of 17th St. and Cumberland. There is a Chipotle's in that space now.

 

[Ted]

Remember East Towne Mall? I think they called it Knoxville Center also.

In 2019, the current owners of Knoxville Center made the decision to close the mall. The Oct. 31 announcement: Knoxville Center Mall will close in 2020 to make way for a redevelopment

The last day that the mall was open to the public was Friday, Jan. 31, 2020. Here's what happened on Knoxville Center Mall's last day

It now sits vacant. Time will tell what becomes of the property.

For those of you who are on Facebook, here is a grassroots effort to save East Towne. It did not succeed, obviously.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

Actually, the original Ruby Tuesday's was at 1701 Cumberland Ave. on the UT end of "The Strip", on the corner of 17th St. and Cumberland. There is a Chipotle's in that space now.

What's your source for that? I've always known the original Ruby Tuesday to be in the spot above Stefano's, directly across Cumberland Avenue from The Library, The Last Lap, and England Sound. They might have had a Ruby Tuesday Express or something open on 17th years later. I've always believed that the original opened about 3 blocks west of 17th around 1972. They also had a store in the L&N during the 1982 World's Fair, on Broadway near Taco Bell just north of I-640, in Suburban Center near West Hills, and in free standing buildings by Mercedes Place in Bearden and along I-140 near Northshore Drive. They also owned the L&N Fish Market when they were part of Morrison's.

 

[MAD]

In 2019, the current owners of Knoxville Center made the decision to close the mall. The Oct. 31 announcement: Knoxville Center Mall will close in 2020 to make way for a redevelopment

The last day that the mall was open to the public was Friday, Jan. 31, 2020. Here's what happened on Knoxville Center Mall's last day

It now sits vacant. Time will tell what becomes of the property.

What's your source for that? I've always known the original Ruby Tuesday to be in the spot above Stefano's, directly across Cumberland Avenue from The Library, The Last Lap, and England Sound. They might have had a Ruby Tuesday Express or something open on 17th years later. I've always believed that the original opened about 3 blocks west of 17th around 1972. They also had a store in the L&N during the 1982 World's Fair, on Broadway near Taco Bell just north of I-640, in Suburban Center near West Hills, and in free standing buildings by Mercedes Place in Bearden and along I-140 near Northshore Drive. They also owned the L&N Fish Market when they were part of Morrison's.

I seem to remember it almost feeling like it was in a residential area just north of the strip.

 

[Roustabout]

I seem to remember it almost feeling like it was in a residential area just north of the strip.

You’re thinking of a Hawkeyes. Ruby’s was above Stefanos. If it was ever at the Chipotle location then it was way before I can remember. I started UT in 88 and know it was in that location long prior to that:

Odd that with the resurgence of downtown and the OC that the strip is terrible. I don’t see how you can have all that new residential and not have many places worth a darn.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

I seem to remember it almost feeling like it was in a residential area just north of the strip.

Ruby Tuesday's front door was just around the corner from the Strip. I don't know if the deck that directly overlooks the Strip was there originally.

Hawkeyes was in an old house a block off of the Strip on White Avenue with their parking lot directly adjacent to 17th.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

You’re thinking of a Hawkeyes. Ruby’s was above Stefanos. If it was ever at the Chipotle location then it was way before I can remember. I started UT in 88 and know it was in that location long prior to that:

Odd that with the resurgence of downtown and the OC that the strip is terrible. I don’t see how you can have all that new residential and not have many places worth a darn.

Thank the Socialist Mayor Lady for spending $10 million digging up Cumberland Avenue and ruining The Strip.

 

[MAD]

Ruby Tuesday's front door was just around the corner from the Strip. I don't know if the deck that directly overlooks the Strip was there originally.

Hawkeyes was in an old house a block off of the Strip on White Avenue with their parking lot directly adjacent to 17th.

That makes more sense, also don’t remember Hawkeyes.

 

[Roustabout]

Thank the Socialist Mayor Lady for spending $10 million digging up Cumberland Avenue and ruining The Strip.

At first I didn’t think this. Cumberland needed a major facelift. However, after reading about the socialist agenda to get rid of single family housing, I’m not so sure. I think they need to just rip out the medians and make Cumberland three lane all the way.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

At first I didn’t think this. Cumberland needed a major facelift. However, after reading about the socialist agenda to get rid of single family housing, I’m not so sure. I think they need to just rip out the medians and make Cumberland three lane all the way.

They'll be outlawing amplified music if they plan to make me share a wall with my next door neighbors.

 

[Ted]

Thank the Socialist Mayor Lady for spending $10 million digging up Cumberland Avenue and ruining The Strip.

Agreed. It's hard to find anyone around Knoxville who thinks that the City improved the Strip.

We'll see if Mayor Kincannon is better. Everyone hopes so.

 

[Ted]

All our memories are what they are about where Ruby Tuesday's original restaurant was. I moved here in 1998 and remember RT's at that corner when it was still there. Also, a web search on Ruby Tuesday's at that address shows a few references to that location. I can always be wrong. I didn't live here back when Ruby Tuesday's started. A lot of you grew up in Knoxville, so you probably know.

Edit: RT moved to the 1701 location but that was not the original location. Thanks to several here who clarified. Back then, I was told by a number of people who lived here that 1701 was the original, so that's why I said that.

 

[Roustabout]

All our memories are what they are about where Ruby Tuesday's was. I moved here in 1998 and remember RT's at that corner. Also, a web search on Ruby Tuesday's at that address shows a few references to that location. I can always be wrong. I didn't live here back when Ruby Tuesday's started. A lot of you grew up in Knoxville, so you probably know.

The original Ruby’s opened in the mid 70s, so your 98 reference is irrelevant. The original Ruby’s was above Stefanos.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

All our memories are what they are about where Ruby Tuesday's was. I moved here in 1998 and remember RT's at that corner. Also, a web search on Ruby Tuesday's at that address shows a few references to that location. I can always be wrong. I didn't live here back when it started. A lot of you grew up in Knoxville.

17th Street isn't the original location. It was first in the space above Stefano's when it opened in 1972. The one on 17th Street was around the 100th Ruby Tuesday store. They gave up the lease at #1 because of a dispute with the adjacent property owner. Their door to the kitchen encroached on the rooftop parking deck next door.

 

[Ted]

Hawkeye's was at 1717 White Ave. The building was torn down back in the early 2010's.

 

[Ted]

17th Street isn't the original location. It was first in the space above Stefano's when it opened in 1972. The one on 17th Street was around the 100th Ruby Tuesday store. They gave up the lease at #1 because of a dispute with the adjacent property owner. Their door to the kitchen encroached on the rooftop parking deck next door.

Thanks for clarifying, all. I've edited my earlier post to reflect.

It's good to see that people are actively following this thread, it's a good one!

 

[Roustabout]

Hawkeye's was at 1717 White Ave. The building was torn down back in the early 2010's.

I miss Hawkeyes. My band played one of their Christmas parties.

 

[Tennesseefan2019]