A New Wrinkle in My Blogging World: Athenaeum

Hopefully, today finds a host of new readers finding their way to Stuck Inside of Knoxville. If you are joining us from the online edition of The Athenaeum, or you saw the link in the print edition, welcome. I hope you find reason to linger and become part of the Urban Nation. This blog covers everything downtown from the political to the panhandler, from music and arts to business and general on-the-street happenings.

For my more established readers, here's what I'm rambling about: starting today (around the middle of the day), I'll have a regular column in both the print and online editions of Athenaeum, a new newspaper covering happenings on campus and in the city. The print version is available on the UT campus and around downtown.

I'll use this new avenue to expand readership for the blog as well as to spread the message about the awesome place we have in the center city. My columns there will reflect what you read here, though it may evolve into a different type of approach to the same topic: Downtown Knoxville.

I hope you'll check out the current issue at the link above and like them on Facebook. The editor is Mustapha Moussa who some of you may know as the owner of 11 Cafe on the 100 Block which opened just before the end of the year.

While you (new and old readers) are Facebooking around, be sure to friend Knoxville Urban Guy and then drop by and "like" the Stuck Inside of Knoxville Facebook page, where you'll find over 1100 photographs of Knoxville sights and people.

A New Business Slips into Downtown in the Waning Moments of 2011

11 Cafe, 122 A South Gay Street, Knoxville

Just when I thought the news was pretty much finished for 2011, I got a pleasant surprise. I'd already started mentally composing my end-of-the-year stories about businesses coming and going during the past twelve months. Out for a walk to take pictures for those blog posts I realized business news hasn't quite finished for the year.

As I walked down the 100 block of Gay Street, I noticed bistro tables on the sidewalk in front of what was, until just over a month ago, a clothing store. Rumors had surfaced that a bagel/pastry shop might be in the making and, in fact, there it was. There wasn't much in the way of signage out front of 122A S. Gay Street, but inside hummed a little, fully operational bistro: 11 Cafe.


Barista Michael Brock prepares an Americano at 11 Cafe

You'll find Cafe Americano (which I can vouch for - very good) and pastries with tables and lounge seating and a growing number of menu items to which, owner Mustapha Moussa tells me, more is being added daily. Additional food and drink offerings such as imported craft beers, cheese plates and Mediterranean lunch and dinner items will be offered along side the cakes, pastries and bagels now available. Based on a Facebook post it appears Kim Trent hardily endorses the Chicken Shawarma Wrap and hummus.The bistro is currently in a "soft opening" phase and getting kinks worked out for a grand opening on First Friday in January.

Menu Board at 11 Cafe, Knoxville

Mustapha encouraged me to come back and just hang out and it looks like it will be a place which is very comfortable for a hang-out spot. Having owned cell phone distributorships in the past, he has some retail experience, but this is his first foray into a coffee shop and into the downtown market. He says opening a coffee shop has been a long-term dream and he is very excited to have his current location.

It's time for the 100 block to come into its own. The city spent a fortune making it functional, structurally sound and beautiful. Several new businesses have opened with rumors of more on the way. If we want it to be the vibrant area it can be we need to support these entrepreneurs. Buy lunch at Harry's, buy athletic wear at Lululemon, purses at Julie Apple and buy a bagel from Mustapha and meet barista Michael Brock. You'll enjoy some good food and coffee and make new friends. What can be better than that?


11 Cafe, owner Mustapha Moussa foreground, Knoxville