Knoxville Center Mall(East Town) Sold

[WallyBalls]

I always liked that there were non-chain stores in there (this was about a dozen years ago). Not places I would personally shop; mostly "urban" clothing stores and quasi-head shops, but it was still kind of charming. Most other malls, like West Town, are just a bunch of crappy stores where you can finds better prices online. As others have said, brick-and-mortar stores are dying.

The Turkey Creek-like development scheduled for Kodak, comically dubbed "Dumplin' Creek", was killed after the recession in '08. There are early rumblings that the Smokies may be looking to move back into Knox County, which would leave Bass Pro Shops as the anchor for a few hotels, a few restaurants, and a candy store, effectively killing retail there.

I've actually always thought that was a situation where a baseball stadium was sitting on a prime piece of retail land. Either way, if they convert it in to a rookie league/park for travel ball tournaments and concerts, I'd say that spot will be just fine.

 

[bigdaddy]

The residents between TC and Kingston Pike were never going to let it happen.
I know the developer wanted to and was hoping for a access right where Admiral landing connects to Kingston Pike (not far from the Sam and Andys). They should have built an exit in the middle that crossed 40 and connected it to the old outlet mall site north of the interstate. Would have been a shot in the arm to that location as well. Lovell road is a mess because of the truck stops. Pilot needs to move out to Watt road.

The hospital there really needs its own entrance and exit separate from Parkside. But that wil never happen either with the protected swamp it was built around. Getting in and out is a nightmare and nobody moves over when you have your emergency flashers on. Sorry your family memeber died, I couldn't get here fast enough because it was more important for everyone else to get to target

 

[VolnJC]

I always liked that there were non-chain stores in there (this was about a dozen years ago). Not places I would personally shop; mostly "urban" clothing stores and quasi-head shops, but it was still kind of charming. Most other malls, like West Town, are just a bunch of crappy stores where you can finds better prices online. As others have said, brick-and-mortar stores are dying.

The Turkey Creek-like development scheduled for Kodak, comically dubbed "Dumplin' Creek", was killed after the recession in '08. There are early rumblings that the Smokies may be looking to move back into Knox County, which would leave Bass Pro Shops as the anchor for a few hotels, a few restaurants, and a candy store, effectively killing retail there.

I used to love Spencer's back in the day Smokies are doing great where they are plus that exit doesn't need an anchor store it gets plenty of traffic

 

[ATC_VOL]

I used to get aggravated when I was on the road...I would type in Chick-Fli-a only to drive to the addy and find it was inside a mall

I spent 20 minutes driving around Jackson, TN one night until we realized it was in the mall.

 

[Coug]

I always liked that there were non-chain stores in there (this was about a dozen years ago). Not places I would personally shop; mostly "urban" clothing stores and quasi-head shops, but it was still kind of charming. Most other malls, like West Town, are just a bunch of crappy stores where you can finds better prices online. As others have said, brick-and-mortar stores are dying.

The Turkey Creek-like development scheduled for Kodak, comically dubbed "Dumplin' Creek", was killed after the recession in '08. There are early rumblings that the Smokies may be looking to move back into Knox County, which would leave Bass Pro Shops as the anchor for a few hotels, a few restaurants, and a candy store, effectively killing retail there.

It'll never happen unless it's somewhere on the edges of Strawberry Plains. I distinctly remember a large contingent who were adamantly opposed to the Smokies being anywhere near Knoxville. It's the reason it is where it is now.

The residents between TC and Kingston Pike were never going to let it happen.
I know the developer wanted to and was hoping for a access right where Admiral landing connects to Kingston Pike (not far from the Sam and Andys). They should have built an exit in the middle that crossed 40 and connected it to the old outlet mall site north of the interstate. Would have been a shot in the arm to that location as well. Lovell road is a mess because of the truck stops. Pilot needs to move out to Watt road.

Except building an overpass over I-40 would have been an astronomical price. You'd be looking at 8 to 12+ million to do it. The most logical would be an access point to Kingston Pike.

 

[VolnJC]

It'll never happen unless it's somewhere on the edges of Strawberry Plains. I distinctly remember a large contingent who were adamantly opposed to the Smokies being anywhere near Knoxville. It's the reason it is where it is now.



Except building an overpass over I-40 would have been an astronomical price. You'd be looking at 8 to 12+ million to do it. The most logical would be an access point to Kingston Pike.

and they just set another attendance record...they are ecstatic in Kodak
Tennessee Smokies Set Attendance Record | Ballpark Digest

 

[WallyBalls]

It'll never happen unless it's somewhere on the edges of Strawberry Plains. I distinctly remember a large contingent who were adamantly opposed to the Smokies being anywhere near Knoxville. It's the reason it is where it is now.

I would argue Knoxville's attitudes have changed since then.

I mean, think back to that time. Downtown was a dump no one would touch, the city was run by the stodgiest, most set in their ways good ol' boy network possible...and they were chasing moronic things like Planetariums and building ridiculous convention centers. I imagine any big opposition came from the usual "don't build anything" crowd or the people in West Knoxville that were near some of the rumored sites out that way.

It may not happen, but I would be floored if it was because Knoxville opposes it now.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

I read that the selling price was about $10 million and it was appraised for about $30 million.

I hope that that don't plan to demo the site. 70s/80s malls may not be trendy right now, but it's nice to be able to park once and hit multiple stores out of the weather.

 

[Coug]

I would argue Knoxville's attitudes have changed since then.

I mean, think back to that time. Downtown was a dump no one would touch, the city was run by the stodgiest, most set in their ways good ol' boy network possible...and they were chasing moronic things like Planetariums and building ridiculous convention centers. I imagine any big opposition came from the usual "don't build anything" crowd or the people in West Knoxville that were near some of the rumored sites out that way.

It may not happen, but I would be floored if it was because Knoxville opposes it now.

Yeah, this all went down some 16+ years ago. A lot of people were trying to control the growth of the city and prevent it from becoming a "tourist destination". In hindsight though the choice really seemed to help Kodak grow. Quite a few businesses have popped up there on exit 407 and they even had to expand and improve that entire overpass and exit/entrance ramps to and from I40.

 

[WallyBalls]

Yeah, this all went down some 16+ years ago. A lot of people were trying to control the growth of the city and prevent it from becoming a "tourist destination".

Still infuriates me. I was in high school and starting at UT around that time. They put Knoxville 15-20 years behind so many other cities for some of the most asinine reasons.

 

[JokermanVol]

It'll never happen unless it's somewhere on the edges of Strawberry Plains. I distinctly remember a large contingent who were adamantly opposed to the Smokies being anywhere near Knoxville. It's the reason it is where it is now.

The stadium is in Kodak because the mayor at that time valued things like an empty convention center, an empty HOF, and other projects that likely lined his own pockets. There wasn't a large contingent of people against them being in Knoxville.

 

[Roustabout]

It'll never happen unless it's somewhere on the edges of Strawberry Plains. I distinctly remember a large contingent who were adamantly opposed to the Smokies being anywhere near Knoxville. It's the reason it is where it is now.



Except building an overpass over I-40 would have been an astronomical price. You'd be looking at 8 to 12+ million to do it. The most logical would be an access point to Kingston Pike.

17 years ago, when they were already cutting in roads, etc., it would have been reasonable in relation to the entire project. Probably could have lobbied for state assistance.

 

[BigZiti09]

The stadium is in Kodak because the mayor at that time valued things like an empty convention center, an empty HOF, and other projects that likely lined his own pockets. There wasn't a large contingent of people against them being in Knoxville.

The mistake by the lake.

 

[VolnJC]

The mistake by the lake.

What was that other crazy idea...something about a Christopher Columbus discovery museum?

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

The stadium is in Kodak because the mayor at that time valued things like an empty convention center, an empty HOF, and other projects that likely lined his own pockets. There wasn't a large contingent of people against them being in Knoxville.

He also throws like a girl.

 

[WallyBalls]

What was that other crazy idea...something about a Christopher Columbus discovery museum?

I swear I remember some Space museum/planetarium type thing.

The whole time period was like a never ending version of the Simpsons where Springfield is hoodwinked in to buying a monorail.

 

[VolnJC]

I swear I remember some Space museum/planetarium type thing.

The whole time period was like a never ending version of the Simpsons where Springfield is hoodwinked in to buying a monorail.

Well at least we will always have the Sunsphere

 

[Coug]

A monorail would be cool in Knoxville. Have it go from West Knoxville, to Downtown, to Maryville and Alcoa.