Business Update in the Old City and Beyond

While the city has been consumed by Christmas since before Halloween, businesses have been sprucing up, moving, closing and quietly preparing to open.

New Nama Sign on Truck on Gay Street

Nama sign being unloaded at new location

New Nama sign in alley beside Regal Cinemas, outdoor seating below

One of the notable changes coming to a classic restaurant near you is Nama's move from the 100 block to the space next to Regal Cinemas. It's a big change for a stalwart of the 100 block. Obviously the new location is a higher traffic area, but I wonder if the people who would love Nama hadn't found it, already. I'm sure they will do well, but it seems like a significant loss to the 100 block.

Current Nama location - 100 Block

Harry's Deli nears completion

Not to fear, the 100 block has an opening coming soon for Harry's Deli which will open on the same site and will be reminiscent of Harold's Kosher deli, though not everything will be Kosher at the new restaurant. It is nice to see someone open in that spot who has fond memories of Harold's. He insists the name is a nod to his son, not to the original Harold, but I like to think of it as both.

Facade work on Volunteer Ministries building

JFG building getting new tenant?

Just around the corner work has begun on the facade of the old Volunteer Ministries building on Jackson Avenue. Promised in that location are ground-level businesses with condos above. Jackson Avenue looks to be popping, with the bottom of the JFG building looking as if something may be coming to that spot. Further down the street in the Old City work is being done on the front of the old Jackson Antique Market, turning it into retail space, and a face lift has already been applied to the businesses across the street, which are looking better than they have in years.

Renovation on Jackson Avenue in the Old City

Improved store-fronts on Jackson Avenue, Old City

Of course, there was also the holiday loss of Regas at Gay and Magnolia, near the Old City. As Jack Neely noted in the recent Metropulse, it was probably Knoxville's oldest restaurant. I'll miss knowing it is there. I probably ate there for the first time about twenty-five years ago, but like most people, apparently, I no longer ate there often. It's been about four years since the last time we chose it for a small celebration.

Mural, Mural on the Wall

While in search of the erstwhile mural mentioned in Metropulse, I ran across two other murals. I must have seen them both before, but I never really thought about them until now. I have to say I really appreciate the sponsors and artists who give us murals. I like a beautiful, undefiled brick wall as much as the next guy, but well-placed murals are a real lift to the urban ambiance, sort of like a talented busker on Market Square adds to the experience. I wonder how many people stop to enjoy them. Maybe I'm worse than average in that regard, but on this particular day, I stopped to enjoy.

Here's the first:

Knoxville Historic Train Mural, Central Avenue, Knoxville, October 2010

The name of the mural is "Knoxville Historic Train Mural" and the artist's are Eva Allawos, Walt Fieldsa and Randall Starnes. The donors are too many to name, but they include the East Tennessee Foundation, The Tennessee Arts Commission and Kristopher Kendrick among others. I really like the mural, portraying, as it does, perhaps a more hopeful era when the presence of the train indicated progress and the unstoppable evolution of a culture. Of course, it also doomed the buffalo, the plains Indian and contributed to the coal filth that settled over everything in the early years of the last century. But we're being positive, here.

So what are my questions? Is this a particular scene or event from Knoxville's train history? Is this a particular train from our history? Are the people portrayed in the mural real or imagined? Is the mural from a photograph? If none of the above, then how about some general information about Knoxville's train history? I'd just appreciate a little something accompanying the mural shedding a little light on the subject. By giving it that name, it seems a little history is in order. It's sort of like finding an historical marker that says "Davy Crockett," with no elaboration. Or maybe I'm just nerdy enough to think like this and I'm alone.

Then there is this mural:

Knoxville Music History Mural outside Barley's, Jackson Street, Knoxville, October 2010

Now this time, I'm quite certain I'm correct. This mural is entitled "Knoxville Music History" and the artist is Walt Fieldsa. Others credited include local icons and people I respect greatly: Wayne Bledsoe and Jack Neely. Given that those two were involved, I suspect some pretty strong historical rigor was applied and that the people portrayed are probably all actual people. But who? Wouldn't it have been helpful to identify them? A list with one or two sentences about each one would make for an enjoyable thirty minutes, rather than a lingering glance and "That's cool,"then moving on.

Left End (Facing) the Knoxville Music History Mural, Jackson Street, Knoxville

Starting on the left we can, of course, all identify Dolly for a couple of reasons. R.B. Morris is over her left shoulder reciting poetry. To R.B.'s left, past the unknown (to me) lady in the fur, I'm that would be the Everly Brothers. I think Rachmaninoff is seated at the piano.

Right End (Facing) Knoxville Music History Mural, Jackson Street, Knoxville

I would guess that is Donald Brown on the winding keyboards and Clifford Curry is probably the most recognizable in the painting after Dolly (white suit and jheri curls). Roy Acuff is standing beside him and I'm guessing the dandy with the handlebar mustache and fiddle is Fiddling Bob Taylor. I'm guessing some of the others are Brownie McGhee, Mother Maybelle and Chet Atkins, but I'm not sure.

Can you pick out others? Does anybody know Wayne Bledsoe?