Let's Talk Business

Before I get into today's business business, let me take a small moment to thank those of you who voted for me in the Metropulse Best of Knoxville reader's poll for best blog. I did not win, but I was given a shout-out for honorable mention and I really appreciate your support. Who knows what next year might bring? Congratulations to Mamapundit for her victory in the category. Check out her blog. I'll do a bit of a write up about the reader party sometime down the line.

Business or business related happenings continue at such a pace that I'm not sure anyone can really keep up. I'm going to post a few odds and ends that I've noticed in the Uptown area today and I'll do a couple of posts after that on Jackson Avenue where so much is happening it can't be contained in one post.

The Daylight Building has been covered probably more in this space than in any other and the culmination of all these months appears to be nigh at hand. There are currently three spaces awaiting openings.

Just Ripe - Not open yet, but getting there.

The first to open should be Just Ripe. The shelves are largely stocked, the coolers are in place. Staff is hired and when I passed there today they were having a large, serious meeting which has to be a good sign. I'd heard a soft opening might happen today (May 12), but then I heard it might be delayed. It should happen any day now, if for no other reason than the fact that the goods (chips, drinks, canned goods, grains, granola) that are already on the shelf are aging. One concern they have is that people understand when they visit for the first time they will not be seeing a finished product, but a developing one.

Union Avenue Books

It appears the second to open will be for Re-runs. Scheduled originally for May 24, as far as I know they are still on. The third to open will be Union Avenue Books. Jack Neely gives a detailed accounting of what has been going on with them. The amazing Flossie McNabb will still be the driving force, but she has new partners after her original partners backed out. The soft opening is set for June 1, with a grand opening scheduled for June 18.

New Fizz Sign Looks Great

Other developments I may or may not have mentioned in the Uptown area, there will be an Italian restaurant opening on Market Square in the spot previously occupied by Abode. It will be called Bella Luna. The restaurant taking the place of the Market Square kitchen will be affiliated with the St. Oliver, which is supposed to re-open very soon. The restaurant will serve all three meals and will serve alcohol, which was not acceptable to the previous tenant. Again, Jack Neely wrote a nice farewell to the Market Square Kitchen in which he points out it was the only place on Market Square which had not "changed much since the Carter Administration." You might also notice that Fizz on the Square has a new sign and it makes their presence feel much more permanent. Nice job, guys.

Across Union Avenue the Arnstein Building continues to be gutted. I have a source: an anonymous commenter on this blog. How's that for reliable? If it turns out to be true, remember you heard it here: When I blogged about this a week or so ago someone left the comment that Ruby Tuesdays would move "one of their newly acquired concepts in the Arnstein Building, the Tex-Mex one I believe." True? Not true? I don't know. And how do you feel about that? A chain? More Mexican/Spanish styled food to go with our other twenty-eleven restaurants with that theme? Can anyone do Vietnamese or Thai down here? I'm just wondering.

Sidewalk outside Coffee and Chocolate and Rala

Inside the Miller's Building

The sidewalk outside Re-runs (until they move) and Coffee and Chocolate is finally looking better. Metal gratings to cover the drainage have not been secured and the construction has halted on down the block next to Gay Street where a major renovation is underway inside the old Miller's building (KUB), soon to be the home of Regions Bank, who will move from across the street.

Finally, on down Union to State Street, I noticed that huge parking lot in which our current recycling center is located, is for sale by the county. It may be that it has been for sale for years and I've just never noticed the sign. Still, whether new or not, the fact that it has not been sold suggests to me a softness in the faith of local developers regarding the Marble Alley Project since that spot would be very valuable if the project ever went through. I have also heard that a new floor will be added to the State Street Garage just across the street from that lot.

These Eyes Have Seen Alot . . .

I generally try to pass on some of what I notice on First Friday and this month I bypassed that and went directly into the heavy series of posts about panhandling, so I've decided to loop back and catch a few interesting moments from that chilly evening. The temperatures must have kept people away because after two of the largest consecutive First Fridays the previous two months, this one was pretty sparse as those things go.

Friendly Bird Outside Soccer Taco, Knoxville, November 2010

One of the charms of downtown Knoxville is that while we are big enough to display the hustle and bustle of  a city, we are also small enough to slow down and be human. Or maybe it doesn't matter where you are, people sometimes stop long enough to notice the little things. The small bird and the two attending it are pictured in the entrance to Soccer Taco. I think it was eating food that they placed on the sidewalk.

Beer-hats for sale at Fizz, Market Square, Knoxville

In August I blogged about the Indie Grrls festival that settled into Knoxville for a few days. One of the photographs in that blog showed a woman wearing a slip on the outside of her clothes, talking to a local man who was wearing a beer box on his head. I've seen him since  and he continues to wear a beer box on his head. Now I have evidence that a behavior which seems extreme in July can become mainstream by November. That's right: You may also now proudly wear your favorite beer on your head. The beer box hats are available in several brands for purchase at Fizz. Now if I start seeing multiple people wearing beer box hats I'm going to know I live with a bunch of crazy people.

John Black (center with shiny head) hosts Open House

Finally, that night offered open house at John Black Studios in the Daylight Building. Steady crowds worked through the new business looking at the beautiful photographs while enjoying cupcakes from Magpies. You really should drop by and look at the photographs and talk to Amanda and John about getting a few photos of your own. Also opening to meet the public, if not to open the store, Kristen Faerber greeted well-wishers next door at Just Ripe, which hopefully will open in the next few weeks.

Jewelry Here, Graffiti Gone

There is a lot happening on and around Market Square this week. I'm not talking about the kinds of events that so often surprise me. I'm talking about comings and goings and permanent changes. For a long time I've watched and commented on several possibilities that are now coming to fruition - or can something come to counter-fruition if it isn't fruitful? Maybe not.

Arnstein Building, Union and Market Street, Knoxville

On the interesting side of the ledger, we have the fact that someone is leaving the lights on in the Arnstein Building every day and night for the last several days. Does that mean someone new is snooping around trying to decide whether or not to take the plunge after the Urban Outfitter's deal apparently fell through. I'm hoping strongly. It is such a great building in such a great location. I want something good to happen, there.

37 Market Square, Knoxville

Also interesting are the latest developments at 37 Market Square. The brickwork on the side is complete, with modest architectural elements to add interest, such as the dentil work at the top and the triple row of arched bricks above the second story windows. What I'm curious about at this point is what will happen with the brick facade the developer was compelled to keep. It doesn't match the new brick and it has a century of accumulated dirt and paint. Will they treat the brick somehow to make it match? Will they leave it unmatched so that it announces itself as the historic portion of the building? Will they keep the barely visible and historic inscriptions on the front or perhaps even re-paint them as the developers did on the JFG building? Stay tuned.

Sign Announces Opening Day at Fizz, September 1, Market Square, Knoxville

Katheryn Rouse poses with her hand-crafted jewelry at Fizz on Market Square

Andie Ray outside Fizz - formerly her business, Vagabondia, Market Square, Knoxville

On the good news side of the ledger, today was the opening day for Fizz. It was exciting to meet Katheryn Rouse and welcome her to the neighborhood. She is from Knoxville and worked downtown many years ago - including at the Mercury Lounge. She took a sojourn to New York City, but is back and excited about the newly revitalized Market Square. Visit her. Buy her hand-crafted jewelry and support a new downtown business!

Former Graffiti Wall, minus the plywood and art, Wall Avenue, Knoxville

Now for the unfortunate news - at least to me and others who have enjoyed the Graffiti wall on (appropriately) Wall Avenue. I had written recently (as had Josh Flory at Property Scope) that the Graffiti wall would probably not survive the renovation to 36 Market Square. With the facade replaced on the front, who could imagine the side being left covered with the plywood that provided the surface for artists to copy "The Scream," propagandists to rail against TVA and artists like Cynthia Markert and Brian Pittman to provide free art for the citizens?

Former business exposed on Wall Avenue, Knoxville

This weekend I noticed too many bricks piled on the site to simply be destined for the front of the building. I also noted the fact that the fencing we've all walked around for the last, what, Millennium? Had been shifted from the front to snaking its way down the side of the building - blocking most of the Graffiti Wall. I walked downtown today to take pictures which I assumed would be among the last of the wall, only to discover that it is gone. The plywood has been removed. Caution tape surrounds most of the wall not fenced and broken windows are exposed, along with an interior that is many miles from being usable space.

Interior of back-end of 37 Market Square Building

I'll conclude with a picture submitted by Chandler, who is a recent addition to the Urban Blues Family. He took the picture below of his friend who was visiting from Baltimore and suggested that I might use it. His submission turned out to be very timely.

First Friday Sights

For this one, I'll just bring you pictures with little more than orientation commentary. It was a fun First Friday. I'm always taken off guard by what happens. I knew about the opening of the Transportation Center, but I had no idea that the night on Market Square would have a theme. It was called the Freedom Spirit Festival 2010 whose Facebook page advertised: "You can look forward to ART, live MUSIC, KIDS ZONE, HOLISTIC BOOTHS, FREE LECTURES, YOGA, JEWELRY, REIKI, ANGEL READINGS, BELLY DANCERS, DRUMMING CIRCLE.. and more to come!"

It was interesting, for sure. Lots of tie-dye, incense, jam music and drumming. Ironically, we usually have a bigger drum circle on the regular First Friday's, so I'm not sure what's up with that. Here are the pictures:
 

Professional ladies out on the town pose with the ladies who paved the way.

Fizz jewelry opened for the evening. Next month for real. (Best wishes

 to the owner who endured the night with the flu.)

Groovy Band in Krutch Park

Hula Girl!

Gotchyer Hawgs!

"Tell Me Where It Hurts" Hmm.

Shakespeare among the tie-dye.

Nothing but the best for First Friday!

Taylor spreads rose petals while patrons at P. Pub sip a beverage.

Vendors and customers

Ferd and friend at WDVX. A still photo does not do that boy justice.