| The following was written by Pete Zaring, owner of the Knoxville Cigar Company and reflects only his personal opinions and loose interpretations of cobbled together facts and rumors. It is in no way reflective of the opinions of his employees, fellow merchants and Old City residents who are probably cringing reading it. |
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| Definition: A forgotten area of downtown Knoxville. Well known by its residents, merchants, building inspectors, police officers (thanks Red Iguana) and other enlightened Knoxville residents. Rumored not to exist by Knoxville elected officials, who choose rarely speak about it much less visit or do anything for it. |
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| The Old City is a unique mix historic buildings, nightclubs, bars and restaurants located primarily on South Central Street between Jackson and Willow but also extending a block up and down Jackson from Central. |
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| Central Street was built around the 1880’s and was done so primarily to drain a mosquito infested swamp. Much of the Old City’s early life was a working class business area; in fact, the buildings we now occupy have been hardware stores, furniture stores, a boarding house, pawn shop, pool hall and restaurants. |
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| There were times that the Old City area was primarily populated by both Black and Greek businesses. Then in the early 1980’s the area started to be called Old City and was going through its first facelift in a long, long time. During the late 1980’s through the mid 1990’s the Old City was very vibrant Sullivan’s, Amigo’s, Bullfrog’s, Hooray’s, Lucille’s, and Manhattans had lines to get in while the rest of downtown was vacant in the evenings and on weekends. |
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| The late 1990’s saw a couple of high profile crimes, which were near the Old City but not in it, were front page news and a decline, began. New merchants came and went with some regularity, rents were low and some were enticed by that to start businesses which, having no solid business plans or market niches failed. There are still a few of the 10+ year veterans around but a new phase of life seems to be starting. |
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| Long thought of as a “family area” by less than enlightened merchants and bad parents, it’s really an adult area of clubs, bars and restaurants catering to the over 21 demographic. There’s nowhere like it in Knoxville. There really isn’t another area where you can pub crawl, listen to live music most nights of the week and socialize with some of the best people in Knoxville. |
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| There are things to do in the Old City besides coming to the Knoxville Cigar Company although I can’t understand why you’d want to go anywhere else. Never the less here are a few of my favorites. |
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| Patrick Sullivan’s www.patricksullivans.com the icon in the Old City, it’s the building you see on any advertisement about the Old City (note: these are private ads not sponsored by the city, hard to sponsor something you refuse to acknowledge exists). Very good food, excellent period bar and owned by one of the “Old Guard” of Old City merchants Frank Gardner. |
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| Manhattan’s www.manhattansbar.com is my personal favorite for local bars if you for some reason need to leave Knoxville Cigar. Good food, nice atmosphere, excellent bartenders and a great group of regulars. |
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| Barley’s www.barleystaproom.com/knoxville is great for beer and pizza and if you like Blue Grass music, God only knows why, then you’ll love Barleys. They have a large selection of beer, cavernous seating and excellent pizza. |
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| Pasta Trio is possibly one of the best Italian eateries in Knoxville. Small seating areas so arrive early or call for reservations. Excellent specials and quality of food, wine only so come back to us for after dinner cigars and aperitifs. |
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| The Crown and Goose www.thecrownandgoose.com is the newest addition to the Old City family and is a European gastropub. English dishes with a modern twist and a complete bar selection. They’ll bring a more upscale atmosphere to our end of Central Street. They’ll probably share the same client demographic as Knoxville Cigar and the Melting Pot. |
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| The Melting Pot www.meltingpot.com is another long-term Old City business with an upscale clientele and atmosphere. If you’re looking for a fun and romantic atmosphere this is the place. Fondue is the food style and the Melting Pot does it very well. |
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| The Old City Myths and Facts |
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| Fact: You’ll see panhandlers occasionally. Please people this is the city and you’ll see them in any city. (Especially since the city government turns a blind eye to them) |
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| Fact : You have to pay to park in the Old City. Unfortunate but true unless you can find street parking after 6pm on weekdays or all Saturday and Sunday. Expect to pay the parking criminals around $6 to park. But with gas prices where they are think about how much less driving you’ll do popping from club to club in our area rather than driving all over town. |
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| Myth : Crime is high in the Old City. A myth perpetuated by politicians, over zealous television stations and west Knoxville residents who might have been offended by someone’s socks not matching. If you’ll take the time to look at Knoxville’s crime statistics, either mall has more crime than we do. The only real crime you can depend on happens around Christmas when the city decorates every other downtown area except the Old City. |
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| Fact : There aren’t many things for my kids to do. Yes, that is correct as we are an adult venue. While there are several restaurants that allow children there’s really nothing to do with them after dinner, so get a sitter and leave them home. Oh, and before you drop off your teens don’t, that’s what malls are for. |
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| Myth : It’s hard to get to the Old City. It didn’t bother Columbus coming to the new world and it shouldn’t bother you coming downtown. |
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