4 days ago
Sevier Avenue business has record month amid roadwork. Could summer be the true test?
While Knoxville has experienced a wave of restaurant closures, businesses along Sevier Avenue are feeling the support from customers who are not letting street construction get in their way of dinner, drinks and shopping local.
In 2017, Landing House became one of the first businesses to open along the popular South Knoxville corridor, which is now undergoing a $19.2 million streetscape to improve the walkability and aesthetic of the neighborhood. But on June 8, the restaurant will close after eight years as an eastern anchor of Sevier Avenue, with owner Zach Land describing the neighborhood as "completely unrecognizable" in its current state.
In addition to Landing House and beyond South Knoxville, coffee shops like Frothy Monkey and Golden Roast have announced closures recently, along with restaurants like Babalu and the downtown location of Sweet P's BBQ.
Sevier Avenue business like Southside Garage are in a unique predicament, co-owner James Tourville told Knox News, as they are fighting off the tidal wave of closures while preparing for heavy streetscape work to come.
Construction has already shifted traffic patterns for a roundabout being built at the intersection of Island Home Avenue. Combine that with the Gay Street Bridge being closed since June 2024, and you might think Sevier Avenue businesses are suffering from a 1-2-3 punch.
But that's not the case, Tourville said − at least, not for everyone. Southside Garage, which opened six years ago at 1014 Sevier Ave., recorded its best month to date in May, he said.
The streetscape started in January, and most construction so far has been prep work. The 18-month construction period will involve moving overhead utility wires underground while adding bike lanes and ADA-compliant sidewalks to the street, plus the roundabout.
Work has picked up on the east end of the street near Landing House, while construction near South Knoxville Elementary School is expected to pick up during the summer when school is out. Sevier Avenue will remain open to vehicles and pedestrians during the entire project, Knoxville City Councilmember Tommy Smith told Knox News.
"It was time for the city to respond by making it a walkable area that people felt safe. So, I'm pumped," Tourville said. "I get it. I mean no one's excited for construction in front of your business, but I know what it's going to look like, and I know how much better it's going to be down here."
Much of the tangible work has yet to reach the heart of Sevier Avenue, where businesses like Southside Garage and nearby Redbud Kitchen operate. Therefore, whether people will be hesitant to park during what's typically popular summer months is still to be seen, Redbud Kitchen owner Lisa Long told Knox News.
"All these things coming together are great," she said. "But the time between now and then will be the challenging part. Someday, it'll be amazing."
Redbud, located at 906 Sevier Ave., has experienced good business since the weather warmed up. The restaurant has rolled out a new menu with several additional entrees, including a hot honey fried chicken sandwich, bone-in wings and a shrimp burrito bowl.
Smith, who represents South Knoxville and Fort Sanders near the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, met with the Cumberland Avenue Merchants Association prior to the Sevier Avenue streetscape to talk through helpful strategies for businesses during construction periods. The Strip has been no stranger to streets changing, as the city for years has focused on making this portion of Cumberland Avenue more pedestrian friendly.
One big takeaway was the importance of marketing the changes. Smith said the city has allocated $30,000 for the Sevier Avenue Merchants Association to tell their story. Business owners hope to use the money for a billboard.
The other big takeaway was the importance of accessible parking, making it easy for people to visit. The city has dedicated $150,000 to pave the nearby parking lot under James White Parkway, just a few steps from Printshop Beer Co. and the new Mighty Mud location. The lot has about 50 spots and has been a public gravel lot since 2019.
With Sevier Avenue marketed as a walkable neighborhood, parking has been complicated for some time. Sevier Avenue business may have a small parking lot with a just few spots, some street parking or no parking at all. That's compounded by the Gay Street Bridge, which was a vehicle and pedestrian route between downtown and Sevier Avenue before it closed.
Repairs are slated to wrap up by the end of the year, Smith said, which would reopen the bridge to pedestrians.
"It's a bummer to not be able to walk across it to get to downtown. And there's a couple times when it'd be worthwhile to drive across it to beat the traffic," Tourville said. "The Henley situation is not great. It's a lot of traffic, but compared to larger cities, it still kind of pales in comparison to how bad traffic can get. We're talking minutes, not hours, of delays."
Once the bridge reopens, the city is looking to complete a comprehensive traffic study of the Henley Street, Gay Street and James White Parkway bridges, along with the connecting streets of Sevier and Blount avenues.
"Next year is a great year to study how efficient are we at getting humans across the river," Smith said. "And that study, in my opinion, will be consequential for the next decade."
Joanna Hayes is the restaurant and retail reporter. Email:
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Sevier Avenue businesses want support amid South Knoxville streetscape
