Knoxville, Tennessee, is a city unlike any other—with a respect for its historic beginnings and old mountain ways mixed with new and modern business and trends. Rich farmland begins not far outside town and has produced nationally known food brands Bush’s Beans and Mayfield Dairy, as well as renowned chef favorites Benton’s Smoky Ham and Bacon and Cruze Dairy Farm. White Lily Flour and JFG Coffee both operated in Knoxville for over one hundred years.
Energy is a major focus in the city, with the proximity to the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the nation’s largest power provider, the Tennessee Valley Authority. The entertainment industry plays a major role as well, with Scripps Networks and the Regal Entertainment Group both headquartered here. Knoxville is close to the tourist destination of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which is the most visited national park in the United States, as well as Blackberry Farm, one of this country’s most lauded luxury resorts. Students from all fifty states and over one hundred foreign countries come to study at the University of Tennessee, which reaches enrollment of over twenty-five thousand.
Knoxville has the distinction of having one of the highest numbers of restaurants per capita in the nation, and our central geographic location and steady economy contribute to an often-used test market for new restaurant concepts and food products. There are thousands of “lost restaurants” of Knoxville. Here I’ve gathered a collection of highlights for your enjoyment and for your acclimation to our fair city.
Welcome to Knoxville. Sit and visit with us for a spell.