Downtown mailbag: New Gay Street market bringing sodas, snacks, scratch-offs and smokes

Ryan Wilusz, Knoxville News Sentinel
·4 min read

Knox News readers have questions about downtown, and we have the answers!

This week, our downtown Knoxville team answers:

  • Is the Indian restaurant and convenience store still opening on Gay Street?

  • Is another wine bar coming to Happy Holler?

  • Is the Cradle of Country Music Park renovation on schedule?

  • Where can I rent space for parties in downtown Knoxville?

Do you have a question about what's happening in and around downtown Knoxville? Join our Urban Knoxville group on Facebook to ask your questions, or just email ryan.wilusz@knoxnews.com.

You also can keep up with the latest downtown news by listening to "The Scruffy Stuff" on your favorite podcast streaming platform. Weekly episodes of the award-winning podcast are published every Tuesday.

Convenience store, Indian restaurant coming soon to Gay Street

I recently stopped by what's soon to be Ian's Market in the 100 block of Gay Street and spoke with co-owner Keyur Patel. He said the store could open as soon as July 17 or 18.

Keyur Patel, co-owner of the forthcoming Ian's Market in the 100 block of Gay Street, poses for a portrait as workers prepare the space for opening day. The convenience store, which would be adjoined by a fast-casual Indian restaurant, will have snacks, beer, lottery tickets and an ATM.
Keyur Patel, co-owner of the forthcoming Ian's Market in the 100 block of Gay Street, poses for a portrait as workers prepare the space for opening day. The convenience store, which would be adjoined by a fast-casual Indian restaurant, will have snacks, beer, lottery tickets and an ATM.

The store, located at 145 S. Gay St., will have a variety of typical convenience store items that include:

  • Beer

  • Chips and snacks

  • Cigarettes

  • Coffee

  • Ice cream

  • Lottery tickets

  • Soda

An ATM also will be located inside, and Patel said items will be available through third-party delivery services. Tentative hours are 6 a.m.-midnight, but those could change.

"Aroma Express" has been scrapped as the adjoining restaurant's name, but the general concept remains. The Indian restaurant would be similar in style to Chipotle, allowing guests to customize their dishes.

Patel said owners are targeting Aug. 15 as an opening date for the restaurant.

A wine bottle shop (not a bar) bound for Happy Holler

Construction permits surfaced for a wine bar at 1201 N. Central St., but that's not exactly the plan.

The building at the corner of North Central Street and West Anderson Avenue, a former antiques store, is undergoing major renovations that include residential units and a wine shop (not a bar, though tastings will be offered).

Owners plan to invest $1.7 million into this building at 1201 N. Central St., which would include 10 apartments and Central Bottle Shop, a wine and liquor store from the same people behind Downtown Wine + Spirits. The Happy Holler neighborhood has been growing, with the recent additions of Zero/Zero Wine Bar and eVape Tavern & Dispensary.
Owners plan to invest $1.7 million into this building at 1201 N. Central St., which would include 10 apartments and Central Bottle Shop, a wine and liquor store from the same people behind Downtown Wine + Spirits. The Happy Holler neighborhood has been growing, with the recent additions of Zero/Zero Wine Bar and eVape Tavern & Dispensary.

Ten apartments will be spread across three floors − two on street level, five above and three below. Also on the street level would be Central Bottle Shop, a new wine and liquor store from the people behind Downtown Wine + Spirits at 407 S. Gay St.

"That (Happy Holler) area needs a lot of cleaning up to be quite honest with you," said Jefferey Nash, president of property owner The Courtland Group, which is redeveloping the building. "But unfortunately, it has gone many, many, many years with very little money being spent on those commercial buildings."

Nash told Knox News the total investment, including the $400,000 purchase of the building, will be around $1.7 million once renovations are complete.

DL Bergmeier, a partner in the bottle shop, said Downtown Wine + Spirits just celebrated 16 years in business and has been looking to expand. The new space is roughly the same size as the Gay Street location, and wine will be the focus. However, a small spirits section will be offered.

As for the location, Bergmeier said, many Gay Street customers come from their homes in Happy Holler and Fourth & Gill to shop. Also, the addition of Zero/Zero to Happy Holler just a few doorways down is a plus.

"I always feel like the more people getting into wine and tasting wine − we're all kind of stronger together," he said. "The thought is maybe we'll do some collaborations with them."

He hopes to be open by the holiday season, but that could change. When the time comes, tastings and classes will be available.

Timeline for Cradle of Country Music Park in downtown Knoxville

A rendering of Pier 865, an art piece being installed at Cradle of Country Music Park in downtown Knoxville, hangs from a fence to separate pedestrians from construction workers building the base.
A rendering of Pier 865, an art piece being installed at Cradle of Country Music Park in downtown Knoxville, hangs from a fence to separate pedestrians from construction workers building the base.

The sculpture coming to Cradle of Country Music Park is the most expensive public art project in city history. Last time we heard about it, residents voiced their concerns about trees being removed to make room for it.

A plan was created to address those concerns, and the project is chugging along with the following timeline:

  • Late May: Site preparation (complete)

  • Early June: Lights and benches removed, fencing added, parking spaces temporarily removed to store construction materials (complete)

  • Mid-June until fall: Construction of the base

  • Late fall: Sculpture installation

  • 2024: Park reopens to the public (date to be determined)

Construction of the base for Pier 865 at Cradle of Country Music Park is expected to last until fall. Come late fall, the sculpture will be installed before the park reopens to the public at 235 W. Summit Hill Drive next year.
Construction of the base for Pier 865 at Cradle of Country Music Park is expected to last until fall. Come late fall, the sculpture will be installed before the park reopens to the public at 235 W. Summit Hill Drive next year.

The project is expected to cost $1.25 million, mostly split between the city and the Public Arts Committee with $500,000 each. The Downtown Knoxville Alliance, along with Visit Knoxville and the state, also have committed $250,000 between them.

Knoxville movie theater among rentable spaces for parties

Does your party need "Big Screen Energy"? Central Cinema in Happy Holler offers just that to customers who rent the theater for movies, video games and karaoke.

Rentals start at $200, according to its website, with snack bar minimums starting at $150.

A variety of downtown restaurants, breweries and event venues also offer private space for gettogethers. In addition to traditional venues, like The Square Room, space also is available at places like Barley's Taproom & Pizzeria, which has two private rooms on its second floor.

The private lane at Maple Hall is a popular spot for birthdays, while Downtown Grill & Brewery has a banquet room that can accommodate up to 50 people.

A comprehensive list of meeting venues in and around downtown Knoxville is available at visitknoxville.com/meetings/venues.

Ryan Wilusz is a downtown growth and development reporter. Phone 865-317-5138. Email ryan.wilusz@knoxnews.com. Instagram @knoxscruff. 

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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Downtown Knoxville convenience store, Happy Holler wine shop coming