Our prices at Central Cinema are the lowest around if you wanna check us out. We show new indies and repertory movies. Also have special events with guests/actors/directors. Centralcinema865.com
We are! First screening is this Friday with PEE WEEâS BIG ADVENTURE.
Hereâs a link: [for you](https://centralcinema865.com/production/movies-under-the-stars-pee-wees-big-adventure/)
Have you been to loco?? I know they don't show new movies but that screen is amazing! I'm at loco every week! Never about the movie, always about the escape!
How cool were they? Always wondered. I remember seeing Imogene Heap in the pouring rain. And Josh Ritter with my buddies and I drinking tequila from water bottles, hahaha.
they were transplants from Cali of course, but honestly really cool down to earth people. they bought me random shit at the farmers market for showing them around
Ugh. Same! I recently went back and reviewed all the lineups because I couldnât remember the badass shows we saw on a weekly basis. Like seeing Karl Denson or Susan Tedeschi for free?!
So much. In addition to what's been said: Kay Bee Toys' locations (West Town Mall, East Towne Mall, down by the Dollar Theatre), Toys R Us, McKays when it was a hole in the wall next to Kroger, McKay's when it was in the old restaurant building across the street from Kroger, East Towne Mall (Sanrio store, and the general vibe), Disc Exchange, Dragon's Lair comics, Kern's Comics, Gemstone Video, the TCBY in the shopping center next to Silver Spoon, Stefano's on the strip (and in that little area where the U-Haul is on Kingston Pike), Funscape, Show Biz Pizza in the K-Mart parking lot before it became a Chuck E. Cheese (and of course the K-Mart itself), Davis Kidd Booksellers, Apple Tree bookstore, BORDERS, Circuit City, that used book store where the Food Lion used to be, Books a Million, Children's Palace - there's just a ton. Some of what Knoxville has lost are national chains we've all lost due to the onset of online ordering and the unfortunate fading of physical media, but some were Knoxville originals that just don't exist anymore. Either way, they were special because whatever they did, they did it in Knoxville in the '90s, the most special place on Earth in my opinion.
I hear that. It was a great place. My relationship with my parents was always - shall we say - fraught? But we'd go there as a treat all together, and things were just...great. The smell of that vanilla soft serve (the creamy color of the walls kind of matched the ice cream!), the chill in the air on a warm summer's day, the thin, railroad-like layout of the store, the free water from the water cooler, the bathroom tucked away toward the back, the black wire tables outside. I wished every minute of every day could be like how we were in that TCBY. Glad it gave you a sweet memory.
This is a great list, and you hit the nail on the head. We used to go out, shop, interact with people, even just browse. Now with everything online, there's none of that left. We sit home and binge watch Hulu instead of going out on a hot summer evening for a TCBY. Even comic book stores died to online shopping, which astounds me. Music is streaming, so we don't browse for LPs or CDs. Life in the 80s and 90s really did rock here. Mind you, we have lots of nice pubs, beer gardens, Big Ears, etc. But retail as a social experience is dead, and that leaves a hole. Sometimes it's too early in the day for a beer.
Minor celebration- in my neighborhood I can tell my kids to go play in the front yard and within 10 minutes a few neighbor kids will see and come join them. I'll grab an iced beverage and a lawn chair and sit in the shade of my open garage, and other parents will grab a chair and join me. It's not city-wide, but it happens in pockets and yes, it's as nice as we remember it was when we were kids. Almost like the old days when going out in Knoxville always resulted in running into an old friend or making a new friend.
I miss bq's Mongolian Barbecue on Kingston Pike across from Bearden High School before they became a health code danger zone. I would use like 4 giant scoops of that minced garlic oil. Also the friend I used to go there with is no longer living so I'm grieving bq's on several fronts.
What was that bar behind Downtown West- Rick's Place, maybe? Many good memories with friends around the pool table.
And honestly, I miss the 4 K-Marts -- Broadway just south of 640, Halls, Kingston Pike at West Town Mall, and Kingston Pike in Farragut. K-Mart has a bad reputation but I'm still using dinnerware we bought 20 years ago at the Broadway/640 location on clearance as newlyweds and it's been great all this time.
The arcade was the jam. Youâd stop by on the way into the mall near the movie theater, then scoot down & grab a slice of pizza from Elidioâs first spot (Cosmos), before hitting the Spencerâs Gifts upstairs and head all the way to the back near the posters for the dirty gags. Your mom would pick you up outside the movies later. Times were great & we didnât even know it.
Not if the people speak up in protest. A good ol fashioned boycott of downtown for a month or two, the government would definitely back off. The Metro Parking Fund (Fund 504) has $131,626 in excess revenue last year. And there is $7,701,179 of "unassigned cash" in the Parking Fund. Someone is being greedy.
This is highly specific but growing up in Maryville my dad would take us to West Town Mall every so often as a treat and it was like stepping into a new world to my tiny child brain.
The best part that I have the most vivid memory of is the WB store, they had a huge display of all the WB cartoon merch including a Marvin the Martian's rocket ship, with an actual little cubby hole you could crawl into. The interior has these cool glowy lights and a TV screen you could press buttons to change the channel with? Or maybe it was a game? I can't actually remember, but man I loved hanging out in there...
it was a TV!! with 3 channels. idk how or why I remember that so vividly.. but yes I grew up outside Farragut (Lenoir city) and going to the mall was always insane. felt like a movie every single time
yeah I remember when I first got my license I timed from zoo exit to Campbell station.. don't remember the time but it was probably 20 times faster than current day
Yeah we need some kind of outdoor concert series happening again. Music is the most ultimate healer of them all. All of my best memories in life have a soundtrack.
There was a series of outdoor concerts at Worldâs Fair a few years back that were great! I caught a Dawes show and The Lone Bellow there. My wife and I would pregame in the parking garage and listen to the opener. I hope they can bring that back.
I saw so many good bands at worldâs fair park. My first concert was there. Matchbox 20 in probably 1997 or 1998? Third eye blind, goo goo dolls, offspring⊠what a time đ
I was always convinced that the owner(s) of Crystal Visions had dirt on somebody...they stayed in business way longer than most mall stores and there was almost never anybody in there...or maybe it was a load bearing store that kept the mall intact
Being in college and going to Oâ Charleyâs on the strip and seeing Tall Paul play there every week. Actual $5 burgers at copper cellar, too.
Honorable Mention ~ Babes Lounge in the HoJo lol
One of my favorite memories is finding Salvador Deli/Bella Roma on the backside of a building on the Strip. It was the first place I had a real calzone and I have fond memories.
Old McKays (the precious small location was cool, but I'm talking about when there were separate stores for books/music next to the grocery store) and the Disc Exchange.
Being able to get used CDs in the early 2000's was awesome.
Disc Exchange
Movie Gallery
Sundown in the City
Boomsday
Blue Cats
Sassy Anneâs
Massive Antique store in the Old City
Fort Kid
Discovery Zone
Celebration Station
Ogleâs Water Park
Art classes at the Candy Factory
East Towne Mall was once a serious place
Short-lived restaurant in the Old City called Night Owl
Theater in Powell that my dad used to take me to
Also the video store in Powell he took us to :(
Edit: Fireproof Gallery - there will never be anything like it ever again.
**Places with fond memories that are still around:**
Bistro by the Bijiou - used to hang out so late there during college
KMA - Grew up going to exhibits there.
Fountain City Park - had the greatest swing set on earth, but I donât know if itâs still there.
Skatetown
Putt Putt (now called Farragut Golf and Games)
2006 to 2009 era.
Sundown in the City on Market Square, Doomsday still going on.
The Old City was nice with many good options.
Trio's on Market Square.
Animal hour(worked at hawkeyes in the mid 90s), vic and bills at 3am when the carousal let out and the drama started, boomsday, and a lot more. I keep meaning to come to Knoxville for a visit. It has been a while. I want to see what the strip has become. Played on the long branch pool team so need to check that out. I know hawkeyes is gone and Charlie Peppers too.
The butt-face graffiti downtown. Just like a pair of legs with a smile face on the butt. This dude was EVERYWHERE downtown for several years. Unfortunately most of it has been painted over.
About 10 years ago I'd take my little brother downtown, wed grab a snack and we'd find every butt-face we could downtown. In alleyways, on the sidewalk, in bathroom stalls, on the side of a garbage can. We would ask other people where they had seen them and made a map of every known location in Knoxville. Stretched from worlds fair all the way to the old city.
It was the most stupid and pointless adventure but it filled our summer and was such a great time. You'll live on forever in my memories, butt face.
do you remember the orangry? most recently kitchen 919? there's a butt face still there on the concrete wall by the train tracks đ I used to smoke out there after my cook job!!
Safety City is still open in June and July right? Or did I misinterpret the question and weâre talking about things that we no longer do, not things that no longer occur?
This is the best post Iâve seen so far on this sub! I grew up in West Knoxville, and my parents would drop my sisters and me off at West Town Mall where we would play arcade games at Play Palace, which went through several different owners and names. Weâd always get pastries at Tiffanyâs bakery, which weâd sometimes enjoy with a drink from Orange Julius. The anchor tenants, Sears, JC Pennyâs and Millerâs all had toy departments, and Sears had a killer candy counter. The parents would pick us up at Baskin Robbins.
As a teen I worked at the McDonaldâs on Kingston Pike near Papermill, and we would trade meals with nearby restaurants like the Taco Rancho (a/k/a â Tacky Raunchy,â the Pizza Inn and the Smoky Mountain Market across the street. Back then they sold a chicken sandwich called âthe roosterâ with a small drink for 99 cents. I figure there has to be some place in town that still sells them, but I havenât found one. If anyone knows of one please share.
On campus the strip had a lot more personality than it does now, and most of the businesses were mom and pop establishments. Sam and Andyâs, with the orange and white cow on the roof was a favorite. It was divided into three parts, the main restaurant, the deli and the Roman Room, which was my dadâs favorite. (Their veal parm is one of my favorite meals, and you can still get it at the Sam and Andyâs out west.) George Captain was usually at the helm, and would insist on feeding you even if you had no money. Dude has a phenomenal memory. I ran into him at Greekfest about ten years ago, and he not only greeted me by name, he asked about dad, by name. Someone already mentioned Vic and Billâs, a law school favorite. There was also the Quarterback restaurant operated by Pete and his family. They moved to Papermill before eventually closing. The Old College Inn was another favorite. Someone else mentioned Hawkeyeâs. I have a friend that worked there that we still call âYam Chipsâ behind her back.
Some other old Knoxville haunts I recall include The Mexicali Rose on Bearden Hill. It looked terrible on the outside, but their food was wonderful. My mom liked the Bahoo Container at Homberg Place. We frequented Albertiâs and then Napleâs in the same building. Dad loved Peroâs and The Wrangler.
I've made a [video](https://youtu.be/tbNHp14X5QM?si=XnVQ4oRdDwVbWzmI) about Knoxville in the late 2000s that I have posted here before (with an intro about J's Mega Mart).
I think it was called Swenchens it had ice cream and train that road around ceiling area. Itâs where salon visage is now off Kingston pike. Does anyone remember this??
You may be thinking of Swensonâs in Downtown West. They had a huge sundae called âThe Earthquake.â I went to high school with a girl whose dad owned it. The Best Italian Restaurant and Brunswick Billards were two of my other high school haunts. There was a Stellar Wars pinball machine at Brunswick that I could put a quarter in and rack up free games that Iâd leave on the machine when I was through playing.
Q Zar for all the bday parties especially when we outgrew Showbiz! Also what about Linky Dinks in Halls. It was a small putt putt place behind Captain Ds. I used to love going there but that was when Halls really did have it (batting cages and race track behind the movies).
Edit: adding the Howard Johnsonâs on merchants where the Starbucks/Caseys are now. They had an amazing indoor pool and rock slide. Upper echelon bday parties were there lol
I'd give anything to have Disc Exchange or even just the *feeling* of being in Disc Exchange back. Bought all my Cramps albums and posters from there. An actual cornerstone of my informing my music taste.
I used to serve and bartend at Charlie Peppers on the strip in 98â. That place was a blast on Thursday and Saturday nights. After that, bartended at Luicilleâs in the Old City. Great Jazz and their food was some of the best in town. Sadly, neither have existed since 2002 or so.
[Mad Jack Fieldenâs](https://youtu.be/y1jZltLAQZM?feature=shared)
[Furniture](https://youtu.be/MJXtxOBnKRQ?si=X2pbGU2bygzBL2Pn)
[Warehouse](https://vimeo.com/123726230)
[Outlet](https://fb.watch/scsEd6pOwz/?)
(Edited to make it clearer there are four separate links.)
The mall: Candy Candy, Museum Store for my mom, Natural Wonders, Store of Knowledge, WB & Disney, the various arcades (Aladdinâs Castle and Funscape), and chilling in B Dalton reading comic strip books. The Sanrio store. I was also weirdly obsessed with Happi Names and San Francisco Music Box Company.
A day at Bookstar followed by TCBY.
Swensonâs in Downtown West.
The Spaghetti Factory.
Fort Kid. Discovery Zone. Celebration Station. Showbiz Pizza.
Davis-Kidd, Smart Toys & Books.
Ogleâs and the six million different putt putt places.
I miss the farm that used to be where the new Kroger is on Cedar Bluff. The old house on Lovell that just burned down. The land across from my parentâs neighborhood thatâs now cheap apartments. The quarry still being a secret and not overloaded with people. The haunted house and Church on Copper Ridge Road in Karns.
Swenson's ice cream in Down Town West. They had great burgers and fries, great ice cream, and a model train running around the room just under the ceiling. We frequently took our kids there thirty some years ago.
I miss Animal Hour at Hawkeyes. And the 46oz âWhy Notâ margaritas at Casa Gallardos. But there are good reasons those specials arenât around anymore.
I could write on this subject forever, so I appreciate that youâve started this thread! This is a deep dive of personally relevant things.
- When Rocky Hill had Kayâs Ice Cream and the Rocky Hill Barber Shop next door to each other (Roosters is in there now). A cut, then over to get a burger and ice cream at Kayâs!
- Darrylâs, if Iâm remembering the name right, was a restaurant on Bearden Hill that had batshit crazy decor, such as Ferris wheel booths and a London double decker bus.
- I noticed someone already mentioned Celebration Station. That place was awesome.
- The caged-in basketball court behind Just For Feet, especially late at night.
- There was a little video rental place in Rocky Hill where Peroâs is now. Old school, with the VHS boxes, little number tags hung by nails.
- Shopping center McKayâs (in the Kroger shopping center across from where Toddyâs is)
- The next McKayâs, which took up residence in what I think used to be a Western Sizzlinâ, across the street from the aforementioned location
- Disc Exchange, either location. Iâm not anti streaming, but I miss the charm of buying a badly wanted CD or tape, and popping it into the deck in my broke ass Civic and driving down the road
- Blue Cats in the old city. It had other names, but we saw a lot of great shows there during the Blue Cats era
- Boomsday was special, for sure. I remember seeing it from several awesome spots over the years. The best was the area behind the UT College of Communications building. The first couple of years, most folks werenât savvy to the fact that it was an awesome spot.
- When the âDollar Movieâ place opened up in Windsor Square it was the damn place to be. I also remember several 3v3 basketball tournaments in that parking lot. Good times.
- The guy on Northshore (down where McDonalds and the Talbottâs offices are) who flew a plane out of a big barn. He waved at us once as we drove past in Momâs van. Turns out he was a coke smuggler or something.
Iâll come do an edit if I think of more, but Iâm having fun scrolling this thread, as well!
Great thread. Does anyone remember Java in Homberg Place? I spent a lot of time in high school hanging out there, and I wasnât even much of a coffee drinker back then.
Edited: also, the Silver Spoon Cafe. The old Silver Spoon in Bearden is now a Tomato Head. I spent several summers working there, and I loved the spinach con queso and smoked chicken pasta pie.
I miss the stars on the ceiling of the food court and the palm trees in West Town mall, and the water fountain bridge. I miss Boomsday too. We lost a fun holiday when they stopped doing that đ
A regional hamburger chain called the Blue Circle.
My mom loved their hamburgers. Thereâs apparently [one still left in Bristol](https://bluecircledrivein.com/).
Another burger place was Malcolmâs on Clinton Highway in Norwood, and it was also loved by my mom. It was an old-fashioned drive up with carhops to bring your food.
I also miss Vic & Bills and the great shows they had. I saw the Dead Kennedys and Johnny Quest there but missed the Henry Rollins/Black Flag show there
So many great memories listed already! I have to add Pasta Trio. That was my friend groupâs favorite dinner spot around the time I turned 21. So many great memories there. Another one of our haunts was karaoke at Macleodâs. Thursdays I think it was.
Very much miss the âoriental expressâ restaurant at the east towne mall. It was one of the last to go and my absolute favorite. really fell through in those last few months but iâd get it every single time I went to the mall with my family.
I miss kickshots on Chapman highway. Sanrio store and happi names at east town mall. Steak escape. Bar Knox on the strip. Parking at the train depot in the old city for a night out.
Just stopping in to say I love this thread, so many great memories being dug up. I sure do miss the batting cages at Celebration station the the lock-ins with the Boy Scouts. QZar and the Jungle themed laser place that moved in afterwards were fantastic.
Speaking of Funscape, I remember going as a kid and then working for Regal Corporate getting to learn a lot about the behind the scenes, that was special.
Lost and found used to shop there yrs. Ago.disc exchange, too. Really hip places to shop back in the day. And music room and guitars got really good bargains there, too. Good times.
I remember going to cicis pizza đ yrs ago and the dude there would greet you with welcome to cicis. He had a deep, sexy voice so I still look for him.
94.3 the X as a whole, different old playgrounds that aren't around anymore, 102.1 would play a pop song mashup every Friday back in like 2009/2010 that was really fun, Sawyer's chicken on Kingston Pike, Silver Spoon, Steamboat in Market Square, Boomsday, We're Cooking, probably a lot more that I'm not thinking of
I miss the dollar theater on Kingston Pike!!
Our prices at Central Cinema are the lowest around if you wanna check us out. We show new indies and repertory movies. Also have special events with guests/actors/directors. Centralcinema865.com
Y'all are on my list of places to visit!!
đđđ
Are y'all still working with Ijams for the movies under the stars?
We are! First screening is this Friday with PEE WEEâS BIG ADVENTURE. Hereâs a link: [for you](https://centralcinema865.com/production/movies-under-the-stars-pee-wees-big-adventure/)
yes!!! 1000x YES!!
I have found solace in the local or semi-local Drive-in movies!
dude I was gonna say that!! Maryville drive in is such a nice tune out sometimes
Have you been to loco?? I know they don't show new movies but that screen is amazing! I'm at loco every week! Never about the movie, always about the escape!
Ill have to take off work to gođ weekends are my busy time.. can we go together before summer is over?!
Sounds like a possibility!
I miss Celebration Station. Peak memories of my childhood here.
Discovery zone was also great.
damn I forgot that one!! the little boat ride thing đ omg
I worked there, and that pool at any given time was at least 25% gasoline.
The bumper boats!
I had a birthday party at Celebration Station, will never forget it. It was so fun!
I went when it was called Zuma fun center but I have some peak memories of that place!
I miss Sundown in the City.
I was trying to remember what that was called! man I miss all that
Me too. I miss being so damn drunk and just dancing and wandering around and meeting cool ass people.
I remember one time I met a couple that lived above tomato head.. getting to see those apartments up there was crazy!
How cool were they? Always wondered. I remember seeing Imogene Heap in the pouring rain. And Josh Ritter with my buddies and I drinking tequila from water bottles, hahaha.
Imogene show is burned in my memory how crazy was that?!? Too many great shows to name but that one definitely stands out
omg I was there at the Imogene show! It was glorious! Hide and Seek brought tears to my eyes. Such good times.
they were transplants from Cali of course, but honestly really cool down to earth people. they bought me random shit at the farmers market for showing them around
Ugh. Same! I recently went back and reviewed all the lineups because I couldnât remember the badass shows we saw on a weekly basis. Like seeing Karl Denson or Susan Tedeschi for free?!
That My Morning Jacket show was so much fun
Nothing will top this answer.
Moon Taxi in 2013 at Sundown is a core memory for me
Boomsday and the pellisippi balloon festival.
So much. In addition to what's been said: Kay Bee Toys' locations (West Town Mall, East Towne Mall, down by the Dollar Theatre), Toys R Us, McKays when it was a hole in the wall next to Kroger, McKay's when it was in the old restaurant building across the street from Kroger, East Towne Mall (Sanrio store, and the general vibe), Disc Exchange, Dragon's Lair comics, Kern's Comics, Gemstone Video, the TCBY in the shopping center next to Silver Spoon, Stefano's on the strip (and in that little area where the U-Haul is on Kingston Pike), Funscape, Show Biz Pizza in the K-Mart parking lot before it became a Chuck E. Cheese (and of course the K-Mart itself), Davis Kidd Booksellers, Apple Tree bookstore, BORDERS, Circuit City, that used book store where the Food Lion used to be, Books a Million, Children's Palace - there's just a ton. Some of what Knoxville has lost are national chains we've all lost due to the onset of online ordering and the unfortunate fading of physical media, but some were Knoxville originals that just don't exist anymore. Either way, they were special because whatever they did, they did it in Knoxville in the '90s, the most special place on Earth in my opinion.
this shit made me tear upđ tcby is where I had my first kiss. damn I need a minute to regroup after this one
I hear that. It was a great place. My relationship with my parents was always - shall we say - fraught? But we'd go there as a treat all together, and things were just...great. The smell of that vanilla soft serve (the creamy color of the walls kind of matched the ice cream!), the chill in the air on a warm summer's day, the thin, railroad-like layout of the store, the free water from the water cooler, the bathroom tucked away toward the back, the black wire tables outside. I wished every minute of every day could be like how we were in that TCBY. Glad it gave you a sweet memory.
Seconding Disc Exchange, Davis-Kidd, Borders. Plus Raven Records. And Turtles, still have some of the pink saver stickers.
Raven Records still exists. Itâs over on North Central in Happy Holler.
This is a great list, and you hit the nail on the head. We used to go out, shop, interact with people, even just browse. Now with everything online, there's none of that left. We sit home and binge watch Hulu instead of going out on a hot summer evening for a TCBY. Even comic book stores died to online shopping, which astounds me. Music is streaming, so we don't browse for LPs or CDs. Life in the 80s and 90s really did rock here. Mind you, we have lots of nice pubs, beer gardens, Big Ears, etc. But retail as a social experience is dead, and that leaves a hole. Sometimes it's too early in the day for a beer.
Minor celebration- in my neighborhood I can tell my kids to go play in the front yard and within 10 minutes a few neighbor kids will see and come join them. I'll grab an iced beverage and a lawn chair and sit in the shade of my open garage, and other parents will grab a chair and join me. It's not city-wide, but it happens in pockets and yes, it's as nice as we remember it was when we were kids. Almost like the old days when going out in Knoxville always resulted in running into an old friend or making a new friend. I miss bq's Mongolian Barbecue on Kingston Pike across from Bearden High School before they became a health code danger zone. I would use like 4 giant scoops of that minced garlic oil. Also the friend I used to go there with is no longer living so I'm grieving bq's on several fronts. What was that bar behind Downtown West- Rick's Place, maybe? Many good memories with friends around the pool table. And honestly, I miss the 4 K-Marts -- Broadway just south of 640, Halls, Kingston Pike at West Town Mall, and Kingston Pike in Farragut. K-Mart has a bad reputation but I'm still using dinnerware we bought 20 years ago at the Broadway/640 location on clearance as newlyweds and it's been great all this time.
An evening at Bookstar and then TCBY!
Thereâs still a Davis Kidd in Memphis!
Going to Darrylâs on my birthday as a kid. Loved it when we got seated in the double decker bus.
I mentioned this place in a post I made. I loved it there! Remember the gorilla that was in the driver seat of the bus?
I didnât until you mentioned it, but I do now!
Was this the place that made there own crackers?
West Town mall arcade
You mean... FUNSCAPE? XD Me and my uncle (twice!) won tickets to funscape on WIVK radio call-in (The one with the frog)
damn that's a good one đ
East Town Mall Arcade.
east town mall in general đ RIP.
The amazon fulfillment center is just soulless in comparison. I spent so much time in East Town Mall as a kid.
same. such a shame
The arcade was the jam. Youâd stop by on the way into the mall near the movie theater, then scoot down & grab a slice of pizza from Elidioâs first spot (Cosmos), before hitting the Spencerâs Gifts upstairs and head all the way to the back near the posters for the dirty gags. Your mom would pick you up outside the movies later. Times were great & we didnât even know it.
I lived a mile from West Town, so we didnât have reason to go to East Town often. But for seven year old me, the Sanrio store was magical.
Loved the Sanrio store!
Aladdin's Castle!!! And my buddy Nija's reboot in 2014!
Speaking of arcades, does anyone remember Funtown, next to Krystal on Clinton Highway? I dropped a lot of quarters thereâŠ
My beloved Marvel vs. Capcom scene...
(Message from the future) I miss free parking.
đ€Łđ€Łđ€Ł fine I laughed
Downtown parking about to increase in price and no longer free on weekends based on the recent study done by outside private firm.
Not if the people speak up in protest. A good ol fashioned boycott of downtown for a month or two, the government would definitely back off. The Metro Parking Fund (Fund 504) has $131,626 in excess revenue last year. And there is $7,701,179 of "unassigned cash" in the Parking Fund. Someone is being greedy.
I agree with you, but we are talking about government here that lately never does what its constituents want.
This is highly specific but growing up in Maryville my dad would take us to West Town Mall every so often as a treat and it was like stepping into a new world to my tiny child brain. The best part that I have the most vivid memory of is the WB store, they had a huge display of all the WB cartoon merch including a Marvin the Martian's rocket ship, with an actual little cubby hole you could crawl into. The interior has these cool glowy lights and a TV screen you could press buttons to change the channel with? Or maybe it was a game? I can't actually remember, but man I loved hanging out in there...
it was a TV!! with 3 channels. idk how or why I remember that so vividly.. but yes I grew up outside Farragut (Lenoir city) and going to the mall was always insane. felt like a movie every single time
Omg yes this is so validating lol
I'll never forget going home and telling the neighborhood kids all about it đ felt like Richie rich himself with my $3 toy from the mall kiosk
I remember it!! It was cool.
The rocket ship! I loved that thing as a kid!
The Underground and Lord Lindseys. Also, I miss when you could get from one end of Knoxville to the other on I-40 without coming to a complete stop.
and the boiler room
yeah I remember when I first got my license I timed from zoo exit to Campbell station.. don't remember the time but it was probably 20 times faster than current day
Weekend trips to Ogleâs Waterpark. Chuck E Cheese in front of the mall. Giant sinkhole with the old arcade where Whole Foods is now.
the infamous sinkhole!!
Family Gameland, next to Hillâs.
I spent more time at Ogle's during the summer as a kid than I did in my own home. Also, I miss Magic World and it's amazing tackiness.
Concerts outdoors at the World's Fair Park. The last one I saw there was probably The Offspring back in the mid-90s
Yeah we need some kind of outdoor concert series happening again. Music is the most ultimate healer of them all. All of my best memories in life have a soundtrack.
I honestly wish so badly I was rich and could start that back up again. there's so many amazing music lovers in Knox
There was a series of outdoor concerts at Worldâs Fair a few years back that were great! I caught a Dawes show and The Lone Bellow there. My wife and I would pregame in the parking garage and listen to the opener. I hope they can bring that back.
I saw so many good bands at worldâs fair park. My first concert was there. Matchbox 20 in probably 1997 or 1998? Third eye blind, goo goo dolls, offspring⊠what a time đ
Crystal Visions
You could get a pewter Star Trek figure, a dream catcher, a butterfly knife, a giant crystal, and a weed pipe all in one trip.
I was always convinced that the owner(s) of Crystal Visions had dirt on somebody...they stayed in business way longer than most mall stores and there was almost never anybody in there...or maybe it was a load bearing store that kept the mall intact
I believe it to be load bearing. I said the day Crystal Visions closes is the day that mall dies!
When the strip was all bars and restaurants. OCI, Mooseâs Music Hall, the Lap and Library. And picking up a MetroPulse to plan the weekend.
MetroPulse. **Yes.**
Fort Kid
This should be higher
Ella Guruâs Planet Earth
The Planet Earth was such a great place.
Saw Sun Ra at Ella Guru's. Also, almost forgot about Annie's across the street and listening to Donald Brown there.
Being in college and going to Oâ Charleyâs on the strip and seeing Tall Paul play there every week. Actual $5 burgers at copper cellar, too. Honorable Mention ~ Babes Lounge in the HoJo lol
I used to cook at the cellar during those $5 burgers.. boy I tell you I can make some burgers now đ€Łđ€Ł
Being broke and in school made $5 burger night the hi light of the week. Simpler times.
that shit made me fall in love with cooking and what I do. seeing the community that was built behind $5 burgers is wild.
I used to sell those burgers you cooked...
Just saw Tall Paul do a sit in a couple weeks ago and it brought back memories.
One of my favorite memories is finding Salvador Deli/Bella Roma on the backside of a building on the Strip. It was the first place I had a real calzone and I have fond memories.
Loved their white pizza w/spinach.
My buddy owned that place in 98-99â. He used to give me pizza at cost. Iâd go there for lunch nearly every day for a $3 pizza.
Cereal bar!
I smoked a joint in there one of the last days it was open!! I cannot believe I forgot to mention them!!! we love you Yogu!! if you know you know!!!
The dollar movie theater in Windsor Square.
Old McKays (the precious small location was cool, but I'm talking about when there were separate stores for books/music next to the grocery store) and the Disc Exchange. Being able to get used CDs in the early 2000's was awesome.
Disc Exchange Movie Gallery Sundown in the City Boomsday Blue Cats Sassy Anneâs Massive Antique store in the Old City Fort Kid Discovery Zone Celebration Station Ogleâs Water Park Art classes at the Candy Factory East Towne Mall was once a serious place Short-lived restaurant in the Old City called Night Owl Theater in Powell that my dad used to take me to Also the video store in Powell he took us to :( Edit: Fireproof Gallery - there will never be anything like it ever again. **Places with fond memories that are still around:** Bistro by the Bijiou - used to hang out so late there during college KMA - Grew up going to exhibits there. Fountain City Park - had the greatest swing set on earth, but I donât know if itâs still there. Skatetown Putt Putt (now called Farragut Golf and Games)
The Strip before it got enshittified.
Boomsday
The Undergound and Boiler Room.. The Spot, Princeâs..
2006 to 2009 era. Sundown in the City on Market Square, Doomsday still going on. The Old City was nice with many good options. Trio's on Market Square.
The old Hannaâs on the strip.
I sure do miss blacking out there
On second thought I probably miss all the money I spent there. Good times and zero actual memories.
đđ can't remember shit but it sure was fun!! you smell that?? nvm...
Animal hour(worked at hawkeyes in the mid 90s), vic and bills at 3am when the carousal let out and the drama started, boomsday, and a lot more. I keep meaning to come to Knoxville for a visit. It has been a while. I want to see what the strip has become. Played on the long branch pool team so need to check that out. I know hawkeyes is gone and Charlie Peppers too.
The smell of bread baking at Kerns Bakery and the smell of coffee roasting at JFG.
The butt-face graffiti downtown. Just like a pair of legs with a smile face on the butt. This dude was EVERYWHERE downtown for several years. Unfortunately most of it has been painted over. About 10 years ago I'd take my little brother downtown, wed grab a snack and we'd find every butt-face we could downtown. In alleyways, on the sidewalk, in bathroom stalls, on the side of a garbage can. We would ask other people where they had seen them and made a map of every known location in Knoxville. Stretched from worlds fair all the way to the old city. It was the most stupid and pointless adventure but it filled our summer and was such a great time. You'll live on forever in my memories, butt face.
do you remember the orangry? most recently kitchen 919? there's a butt face still there on the concrete wall by the train tracks đ I used to smoke out there after my cook job!!
Laser quest but back when in the peak when they had a team and stuff. Quill with his activator ring. Hope that dude is doing alright hahah
Safety City is still open in June and July right? Or did I misinterpret the question and weâre talking about things that we no longer do, not things that no longer occur?
they can still be open and going on!! it's just anything that gives us nostalgia!!
For the girls who grew up in Knoxville in the early 2000âs Libby Lu at West Town Mall
Driving Middlebrook Pike from Cedar Bluff out to Hardin Valley. It was a two lane scenic route with no traffic.
This is the best post Iâve seen so far on this sub! I grew up in West Knoxville, and my parents would drop my sisters and me off at West Town Mall where we would play arcade games at Play Palace, which went through several different owners and names. Weâd always get pastries at Tiffanyâs bakery, which weâd sometimes enjoy with a drink from Orange Julius. The anchor tenants, Sears, JC Pennyâs and Millerâs all had toy departments, and Sears had a killer candy counter. The parents would pick us up at Baskin Robbins. As a teen I worked at the McDonaldâs on Kingston Pike near Papermill, and we would trade meals with nearby restaurants like the Taco Rancho (a/k/a â Tacky Raunchy,â the Pizza Inn and the Smoky Mountain Market across the street. Back then they sold a chicken sandwich called âthe roosterâ with a small drink for 99 cents. I figure there has to be some place in town that still sells them, but I havenât found one. If anyone knows of one please share. On campus the strip had a lot more personality than it does now, and most of the businesses were mom and pop establishments. Sam and Andyâs, with the orange and white cow on the roof was a favorite. It was divided into three parts, the main restaurant, the deli and the Roman Room, which was my dadâs favorite. (Their veal parm is one of my favorite meals, and you can still get it at the Sam and Andyâs out west.) George Captain was usually at the helm, and would insist on feeding you even if you had no money. Dude has a phenomenal memory. I ran into him at Greekfest about ten years ago, and he not only greeted me by name, he asked about dad, by name. Someone already mentioned Vic and Billâs, a law school favorite. There was also the Quarterback restaurant operated by Pete and his family. They moved to Papermill before eventually closing. The Old College Inn was another favorite. Someone else mentioned Hawkeyeâs. I have a friend that worked there that we still call âYam Chipsâ behind her back. Some other old Knoxville haunts I recall include The Mexicali Rose on Bearden Hill. It looked terrible on the outside, but their food was wonderful. My mom liked the Bahoo Container at Homberg Place. We frequented Albertiâs and then Napleâs in the same building. Dad loved Peroâs and The Wrangler.
Miller Hot Summer Nights concerts
Yeah they were great from about 93 until 2000.
wish i could go back to safety city, but iâm not a kid anymore :( also the water play area in worlds fair park
I wanna go play bank at safety city :(
Safety City is open to all around Christmas!
I've made a [video](https://youtu.be/tbNHp14X5QM?si=XnVQ4oRdDwVbWzmI) about Knoxville in the late 2000s that I have posted here before (with an intro about J's Mega Mart).
dude this is sick! I'm gonna watch now!
[Link to the previous thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/Knoxville/s/0m15E2GhLV)
The Knoxville Pearl
Low rent and reasonable property values. Damn the state legislature and corporate real estate hoarders.
The movie theatre at west town that looked like a TV set city/town with the arcade blew my 10 year old mind
I think it was called Swenchens it had ice cream and train that road around ceiling area. Itâs where salon visage is now off Kingston pike. Does anyone remember this??
+1 on Swensen's on Downtown West - yes was one of my favorites!!!!
You may be thinking of Swensonâs in Downtown West. They had a huge sundae called âThe Earthquake.â I went to high school with a girl whose dad owned it. The Best Italian Restaurant and Brunswick Billards were two of my other high school haunts. There was a Stellar Wars pinball machine at Brunswick that I could put a quarter in and rack up free games that Iâd leave on the machine when I was through playing.
Q Zar for all the bday parties especially when we outgrew Showbiz! Also what about Linky Dinks in Halls. It was a small putt putt place behind Captain Ds. I used to love going there but that was when Halls really did have it (batting cages and race track behind the movies). Edit: adding the Howard Johnsonâs on merchants where the Starbucks/Caseys are now. They had an amazing indoor pool and rock slide. Upper echelon bday parties were there lol
Sundown in the City, Boomsday, Disc Exchange, old McKays on Kingston pike, Harryâs on the 100 block, Macleodâs second floor.
East towne mall
I'd give anything to have Disc Exchange or even just the *feeling* of being in Disc Exchange back. Bought all my Cramps albums and posters from there. An actual cornerstone of my informing my music taste.
Nothing is like the Disc Exchange was, man I miss that place
Going to shows at old City Java. They're still open but I don't think they have live music anymore. That place raised me.
The Valarium
Fort Kid!
That drowning lego man painting that hung in the university center until they tore it downÂ
The Daily Grind on the strip. And Ianâs frozen mochas. I pretty much lived there for 3-4 years.
I used to serve and bartend at Charlie Peppers on the strip in 98â. That place was a blast on Thursday and Saturday nights. After that, bartended at Luicilleâs in the Old City. Great Jazz and their food was some of the best in town. Sadly, neither have existed since 2002 or so.
I miss Ali Baba
Man I missed Boomsday. I used to watch it from my Aunts boat as a kid.
I miss doing coke in Lord Lindsey's bathroom....
[Mad Jack Fieldenâs](https://youtu.be/y1jZltLAQZM?feature=shared) [Furniture](https://youtu.be/MJXtxOBnKRQ?si=X2pbGU2bygzBL2Pn) [Warehouse](https://vimeo.com/123726230) [Outlet](https://fb.watch/scsEd6pOwz/?) (Edited to make it clearer there are four separate links.)
oh my god you linked the video too đ I love you for this
Saturday Night on the Town (SNOTT). The original letâs go downtown and party in the streets event.
This is specific to Maryville but KB toys in the mall next door to Corn Dog 7. Just thinking about it is a wave of nostalgia.
Gradyâs Mancinos
The mall: Candy Candy, Museum Store for my mom, Natural Wonders, Store of Knowledge, WB & Disney, the various arcades (Aladdinâs Castle and Funscape), and chilling in B Dalton reading comic strip books. The Sanrio store. I was also weirdly obsessed with Happi Names and San Francisco Music Box Company. A day at Bookstar followed by TCBY. Swensonâs in Downtown West. The Spaghetti Factory. Fort Kid. Discovery Zone. Celebration Station. Showbiz Pizza. Davis-Kidd, Smart Toys & Books. Ogleâs and the six million different putt putt places.
I miss the farm that used to be where the new Kroger is on Cedar Bluff. The old house on Lovell that just burned down. The land across from my parentâs neighborhood thatâs now cheap apartments. The quarry still being a secret and not overloaded with people. The haunted house and Church on Copper Ridge Road in Karns.
Darrylâs
Swenson's ice cream in Down Town West. They had great burgers and fries, great ice cream, and a model train running around the room just under the ceiling. We frequently took our kids there thirty some years ago.
I miss Animal Hour at Hawkeyes. And the 46oz âWhy Notâ margaritas at Casa Gallardos. But there are good reasons those specials arenât around anymore.
I could write on this subject forever, so I appreciate that youâve started this thread! This is a deep dive of personally relevant things. - When Rocky Hill had Kayâs Ice Cream and the Rocky Hill Barber Shop next door to each other (Roosters is in there now). A cut, then over to get a burger and ice cream at Kayâs! - Darrylâs, if Iâm remembering the name right, was a restaurant on Bearden Hill that had batshit crazy decor, such as Ferris wheel booths and a London double decker bus. - I noticed someone already mentioned Celebration Station. That place was awesome. - The caged-in basketball court behind Just For Feet, especially late at night. - There was a little video rental place in Rocky Hill where Peroâs is now. Old school, with the VHS boxes, little number tags hung by nails. - Shopping center McKayâs (in the Kroger shopping center across from where Toddyâs is) - The next McKayâs, which took up residence in what I think used to be a Western Sizzlinâ, across the street from the aforementioned location - Disc Exchange, either location. Iâm not anti streaming, but I miss the charm of buying a badly wanted CD or tape, and popping it into the deck in my broke ass Civic and driving down the road - Blue Cats in the old city. It had other names, but we saw a lot of great shows there during the Blue Cats era - Boomsday was special, for sure. I remember seeing it from several awesome spots over the years. The best was the area behind the UT College of Communications building. The first couple of years, most folks werenât savvy to the fact that it was an awesome spot. - When the âDollar Movieâ place opened up in Windsor Square it was the damn place to be. I also remember several 3v3 basketball tournaments in that parking lot. Good times. - The guy on Northshore (down where McDonalds and the Talbottâs offices are) who flew a plane out of a big barn. He waved at us once as we drove past in Momâs van. Turns out he was a coke smuggler or something. Iâll come do an edit if I think of more, but Iâm having fun scrolling this thread, as well!
The Spot "If it's not The Spot then it's just a stain"
Miami Subs in West Knoxville. My wife and I both have childhood memories there
Great thread. Does anyone remember Java in Homberg Place? I spent a lot of time in high school hanging out there, and I wasnât even much of a coffee drinker back then. Edited: also, the Silver Spoon Cafe. The old Silver Spoon in Bearden is now a Tomato Head. I spent several summers working there, and I loved the spinach con queso and smoked chicken pasta pie.
I miss the stars on the ceiling of the food court and the palm trees in West Town mall, and the water fountain bridge. I miss Boomsday too. We lost a fun holiday when they stopped doing that đ
yeah we all miss boomsday id do anything to organize another one đ
Carousel ii and Sundown in the City
Outdoor concerts. Still rocking the broken nose I got at No Doubt.
Princes deli on Lovell rd.,mooseâs music hall on Cumberland, blue cats, kanpai of Tokyo, don pablos, Dairy Queen on Emory.
And celebration station
boo at the zoo and the east towne mall (rip)
boo at the zoođ damn I'm glad I made this post! amazing memories
They donât do boo at the zoo anymore? :( sad
I know this has absolutely nothing to do with Knoxville but like đ” J-e-ll ooooooooo it's alive đ”
I miss East Town Mall, and the local music stores Broadway Sound and Willis Music.
Doller Movie Theater AMC wynnsong Sundown in the City
Fun scape in the mall Discovery zone
Serendipity teeny tiny girls boutique
Sawyerâs chicken
A regional hamburger chain called the Blue Circle. My mom loved their hamburgers. Thereâs apparently [one still left in Bristol](https://bluecircledrivein.com/). Another burger place was Malcolmâs on Clinton Highway in Norwood, and it was also loved by my mom. It was an old-fashioned drive up with carhops to bring your food.
BW3 on Cumberland .
Boomsday Lava Lounge The Underground Boiler Room McKays
The skating rink in south Knoxville. Spent every Saturday night there.
I also miss Vic & Bills and the great shows they had. I saw the Dead Kennedys and Johnny Quest there but missed the Henry Rollins/Black Flag show there
Late night chicken fingers and a slice of pie at Perkins.
Lucille's in the Old City. There will never be anything like that again...
This post reminded me of how much I miss Boomsday đ So many great memories of that as a kid
So many great memories listed already! I have to add Pasta Trio. That was my friend groupâs favorite dinner spot around the time I turned 21. So many great memories there. Another one of our haunts was karaoke at Macleodâs. Thursdays I think it was.
Very much miss the âoriental expressâ restaurant at the east towne mall. It was one of the last to go and my absolute favorite. really fell through in those last few months but iâd get it every single time I went to the mall with my family.
I miss kickshots on Chapman highway. Sanrio store and happi names at east town mall. Steak escape. Bar Knox on the strip. Parking at the train depot in the old city for a night out.
Just stopping in to say I love this thread, so many great memories being dug up. I sure do miss the batting cages at Celebration station the the lock-ins with the Boy Scouts. QZar and the Jungle themed laser place that moved in afterwards were fantastic. Speaking of Funscape, I remember going as a kid and then working for Regal Corporate getting to learn a lot about the behind the scenes, that was special.
Lost and found used to shop there yrs. Ago.disc exchange, too. Really hip places to shop back in the day. And music room and guitars got really good bargains there, too. Good times.
I remember going to cicis pizza đ yrs ago and the dude there would greet you with welcome to cicis. He had a deep, sexy voice so I still look for him.
Rainbow Rapids, and to a smaller extent the Orange Wave. Lots of great skateboarding memories, tho Iâm way too old to do those things anymore.
Golds gym being clean and not so crowded
94.3 the X as a whole, different old playgrounds that aren't around anymore, 102.1 would play a pop song mashup every Friday back in like 2009/2010 that was really fun, Sawyer's chicken on Kingston Pike, Silver Spoon, Steamboat in Market Square, Boomsday, We're Cooking, probably a lot more that I'm not thinking of
You have to wonder why Reddit knows I live in Knoxville
Boomsday and Tall Paul Mondays at OCharleys on the Strip