Great Story On The Strip On Front Page Of The News Sentinel

[VFLer]

Fond memories of the Tap Room, the Library, Sam & Andy's, and many other locations on the strip from 1987-1991. I have a child at UT now and the strip has a completely different look especially with the current construction. At least Gus' deli is still there.

You beat me to it brother! The strip is nothing like it used to be. These were my faves:
The tap room
The last lap
The library
Old college inn
Regas on 17th
The torch
Sam & Andy’s - remember Bill drinking from his “coffee” cup? “I’ll fix you up there buddy!”
My daughter is starting there this fall. I took her and her sister last year to the last remaining place besides Gus’…Stefano’s pizza. Was exactly the same as when I started in 1979. The good old days…

 

[OffTackleVol]

You beat me to it brother! The strip is nothing like it used to be. These were my faves:
The tap room
The last lap
The library
Old college inn
Regas on 17th
The torch
Sam & Andy’s - remember Bill drinking from his “coffee” cup? “I’ll fix you up there buddy!”
My daughter is starting there this fall. I took her and her sister last year to the last remaining place besides Gus’…Stefano’s pizza. Was exactly the same as when I started in 1979. The good old days…

Great list, remember them all. Had forgotten about Regas on 17th; great place to get a steak dinner. OCI was a classic as well. Even though they weren't on The Strip, I have fond memories of Hymies and Horizons in Shelbourne Towers. I guess you know that Stefano's was recently bulldozed?

 

[HuntlandVolinColo]

That sounds awful

Don't knock until you try it!

It's a special concoction, a sweet mustard type slaw. Very complementary to a burger!

 

[HuntlandVolinColo]

During the late 60's and early 70's, the Roman room featured cold Michelob on tap, wonderful Greek salads, and the best veal parmesan ever. I was a regular and George tolerated college students. Barely.

I don't ever remember Michelob on tap! The 8-ounce ponies were perfect for sitting on a car console and throwing bottles at signs. Those little tasted better too.

 

[RDU VOL#14]

It’s a shame what the Strip has become now.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

Learned to drink beer at the Last Lap listening to Jimmy Buffet belt out "Why don't we get drunk and screw". Anyone remember Ruby Tuesday on the strip? It was the #2 Ruby Tuesday after the first one in West Knoxville.

The Ruby Tuesday on Cumberland was their first. The building with Stefano’s at street level.

 

[Volador]

The Ruby Tuesday on Cumberland was their first. The building with Stefano’s at street level.

And to think that all these years I have been telling people W Ktown was the first Ruby Tuesday in the nation. Oh the humanity

 

[orangebloodgmc]

The Ruby Tuesday on Cumberland was their first. The building with Stefano’s at street level.

I was just an 18 yr old sophomore from a small town in E TN ... but Ruby Tuesday's had Sangria, which I had only read about in books! And snails! The eating kind!

 

[ptcarter]

Good Article...Couldn't beat $1 Long Island Teas at the Copper Cellar on Fridays, come back scarf down some pizzas from Stephano's watch Miami Vice, then hit the strip.

If you take the abbreviation of Long Island tea and make a word out of it, WHAT DO YOU GET?

 

[ptcarter]

Squeegie used to come to Mary Jane’s ice cream shop, which I managed. It was located on the side of England Sound. We would give him ice cream in lieu of money after we found out he was buying booze with the cash we gave him. He would wash our windows, take out trash. He could be really funny. Hungover or strung out he got ugly.

I seem to remember that Squeegie died on a cold night in the courtyard of Fort Sanders Manor. Not sure if that is true, but I knew some "friend of a friend" type that knew someone that lived there. Sad day in the Fort.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

And to think that all these years I have been telling people W Ktown was the first Ruby Tuesday in the nation. Oh the humanity

I think that the Suburban Center RT was #2. I’m not 100% certain about that though.

The L&N Station RT at the 1982 World’s Fair was fairly early on. Around the time that Morrison’s bought the restaurants.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

I seem to remember that Squeegie died on a cold night in the courtyard of Fort Sanders Manor. Not sure if that is true, but I knew some "friend of a friend" type that knew someone that lived there. Sad day in the Fort.

“Chief” drowned in the river near Neyland Stadium/Downtown. There was a picture of him lying on a dock after they pulled him out. His arm was sticking out from under the cover like he was waving good bye. He was a well known character.

 

[ptcarter]

Learned to drink beer at the Last Lap listening to Jimmy Buffet belt out "Why don't we get drunk and screw". Anyone remember Ruby Tuesday on the strip? It was the #2 Ruby Tuesday after the first one in West Knoxville. And best hot dogs on the planet were found at the gas station on the corner of Volunteer BLVD and Cumberland Ave. Think it was Paul's Place? Hot dog w chili/beans topped with smoked cheddar and then steamed. Add brown mustard and a true culinary delight was had by all. And anyone ever do Happy Hour at The Sheraton? Think it was 3 for 1 and cost of a drink was $1.80. Oh, and got arrested for D&D at The Tap Room. Such a nice place.

Man.. my brother got arrested on the strip. Unfortunately, he was in the restroom and there was a cop in the next stall. The stall door was barely hanging on by a thread and he bumped in and it fell over. Cop thought it was intentional and he was a tad buzzed (who wasn't on a Friday night at midnight).

Last Lap was my "go to" bar. Lots of games like Space Invaders and Pac Man. (Hey that was cool back then) . The pathway around the inside bar and the back bar made a big circle. I would cash a one Dad's checks for $5.10 at Eddies Liquor store on a weekend (Eddie kept the .10 and gave you the fiver), and have enough to hang out a the Lap for a while. This sounds a little cheap, but towards the end of the evening, you could walk the loop around the bars with your eyes peeled on the floor. Drunks pulling money out of their pockets happened and there were nights when I found a ten, or a twenty. Enough to not go home. Was able to extend the evening on most nights there.

 

[ptcarter]

“Chief” drowned in the river near Neyland Stadium/Downtown. There was a picture of him lying on a dock after they pulled him out. His arm was sticking out from under the cover like he was waving good bye. He was a well known character.

Wow. Sad. By the way, there were some dang cold winters in Knoxville around the 1975-80 era. I lived in the fort and walked to class. Remember the Time and Temperature on Park Bank downtown. Lot's of mornings in the single teens and the sidewalks iced over.

 

[Carl Pickens]

Good Article...Couldn't beat $1 Long Island Teas at the Copper Cellar on Fridays, come back scarf down some pizzas from Stephano's watch Miami Vice, then hit the strip.

I’d watch Miami Vice before heading out to party too

 

[feathersax]

The Ruby Tuesday on Cumberland was their first. The building with Stefano’s at street level.

Recall a meal there with friends back in mid-70s: Ruby burger & Bloody Mary.

 

[RDU VOL#14]

Good Article...Couldn't beat $1 Long Island Teas at the Copper Cellar on Fridays, come back scarf down some pizzas from Stephano's watch Miami Vice, then hit the strip.

I’d watch Miami Vice before heading out to party too

You guys rolling into OCI

 

[KTrain]

Yea, they screwed that up, maybe the worst marketing disaster/mistake in modern history.

I look for song to come out like Johnny Russell's (Red Neck, White socks & Blue Ribbon beer) that caused the demise of Pabst in the Sixties/Seventies. Pabst Blue Ribbon was # 1 then and has floundered for decades but making a bit of come back. Teens and college age wouldn't drink Blue Ribbon for fear of being called a Redneck and not hip. Went from first to worst.

 

[ShelbourneVol]

I seem to remember that Squeegie died on a cold night in the courtyard of Fort Sanders Manor. Not sure if that is true, but I knew some "friend of a friend" type that knew someone that lived there. Sad day in the Fort.

We heard pretty much the same thing, that he died from exposure. When he went on his benders he would sleep anywhere, once word was he was sleeping in the dumpster next to England Sound.

 

[ShelbourneVol]

The Ruby Tuesday on Cumberland was their first. The building with Stefano’s at street level.

I consumed many bacon cheeseburgers at their original Cumberland location.

 

[OffTackleVol]

I don't ever remember Michelob on tap! The 8-ounce ponies were perfect for sitting on a car console and throwing bottles at signs. Those little tasted better too.

We called those little 8 ounce Miller's "Golden Eggs."

 

[Volador]

I think that the Suburban Center RT was #2. I’m not 100% certain about that though.

The L&N Station RT at the 1982 World’s Fair was fairly early on. Around the time that Morrison’s bought the restaurants.

You are CORRECT for 10 Points. Cumberland location was first location. And saw article from January/23 stating that the original building is set to be demolished, if it hasnt happened already

 

[Dadof2Vols]

Squeegie used to come to Mary Jane’s ice cream shop, which I managed. It was located on the side of England Sound. We would give him ice cream in lieu of money after we found out he was buying booze with the cash we gave him. He would wash our windows, take out trash. He could be really funny. Hungover or strung out he got ugly.

That’s pretty mean of you to give him ice cream instead of Beer money.

 

[ShelbourneVol]

That’s pretty mean of you to give him ice cream instead of Beer money.

I needed to stay in character!

 

[Volinleesburg]

I loved Tall Paul at The Library