Knoxville restaurants news: Potchke stays put but several others say goodbye

The spooky month is over and November is bringing in the chills, but that doesn't mean you can skip out on all the restaurant and retail news from October.

The month was plagued with several sudden restaurant closings. A couple of these restaurants are gone for good, but there's a hint of possibility for one South Knoxville favorite.

And there were some bright spots, too, including new concepts opening up, a Farragut restaurant reopening and a couple of expansions for local favorites.

Here are 16 stories from October you don't want to miss.

Potchke isn't going anywhere anytime soon

Knoxville's beloved deli Potchke isn't going anywhere. Co-owner Laurence Faber and business partner Brian Strutz are preparing to sign the lease again for the restaurant at 318 N. Gay St. The restaurant that started as a pop-up is actually negotiating for a longer lease.

Strutz said there are plans to expand the kitchen to increase the number of dishes served each day.

"We fully intend to keep Potchke around," Strutz said.

It helps that Potchke was named one of the best new restaurants in the south by Southern Living magazine.

SmashCity Knoxville expands out west in Farragut

SmashCity Knoxville has found an additional home in Farragut. The new spot is in collaboration with Honeybee Coffee at 10716 Kingston Pike and it launched Oct. 20. Customers can now order the restaurant's signature smash burgers while sipping a Honeybee Brewery beer.

The new joint is in addition to the SmashCity site at the former OliBea location at 211 S. Central St.

Burger Boys announces closure in South Knoxville

In a hard-hitting blow to South Knoxville, Burger Boys announced it will be closing at 2400 Chapman Highway.

Owner Andre Bryant made the announcement on Facebook with a post on Oct. 23. The tiny restaurant will close its doors to give the new Kern's Food Hall extra space at the traffic light.

No closing date was given, so there's still time to get those free fries with your order.

As for the future of Burger Boys, Bryant is looking forward to a "well-deserved break to reflect on his next steps," according to the post.

Voodoo Brewing Co. taproom closed after 10 months

Voodoo Brewing Co. closed its Knoxville taproom Oct. 9 after only 10 months in business. The taproom exclusively sold beer from the Pennsylvania-based brewery at 215 Brookview Centre Way.

The business announced on Facebook and Instagram on Oct. 9 that it was an "indefinite" closure.

"As difficult as this decision is, it is the right one for us as independent owners at this time. We'd like to offer a big Voodoo thank you to the city of Knoxville and all of our valued patrons for the memories we've shared and the support that we've received since our grand opening," the Facebook post read.

Back Yard Burgers closes its final location in Knoxville

After 35 years in the area, Back Yard Burgers closed its last fast food location in Knoxville.

The chain was locally owned by managing partners David and Natalie Broyles, who decided to retire. The location at 10008 Kingston Pike closed Oct. 27.

"Their retirement marks the end of an era in Knoxville's culinary landscape, and they express their gratitude for the years of support from the local community," a Back Yard Burgers press release said. "With the closure of this final location, the Broyles family acknowledges the end of an era, having cherished the opportunity to be a part of the Knoxville community's lives and celebrations."

35 North reopens in Farragut under a new owner

35 North has reopened in Farragut after being purchased by a new owner.

The restaurant and bar originally closed in December 2022. New owner Vinit Sharma purchased the restaurant and reopened it Oct. 16. Its biggest new feature is the vegetarian menu featuring chickpea patty burgers, avocado tacos and pasta.

Sharma wants 35 North to be a place for every occasion: birthdays, business lunches, watch parties, family dinners and more. He hopes diners will make it a go-to spot for lunch, dinner and drinks.

35 North is open 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday. On Friday and Saturday, it's open until midnight.

The Greens and Atomic City Brewing Co. opens in Oak Ridge

The new brewery and mini-golf attraction from Gypsy Circus Cidery is now open in Oak Ridge.

Atomic City Brewing Co. is the first brewery in Oak Ridge. It's a part of The Greens, a mini-golf course operated by Gypsy Circus. There are actually three courses to play on, and several other games to play including giant chess and bocce ball.

There are four beers available from Atomic City Brewing Co.: Lit Lite, Y-12, Let the Sirens Ring and Human Shadows of Death. It's brewed exclusively onsite.

The Greens by Gypsy Circus opened Nov. 2. It is open 4-10 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m-10 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday.

Inskip Grill opens a new location in Powell

Inskip Grill expands with a second restaurant, leaving Inskip for Powell.

Located at 2509 W. Emory Road, the new restaurant is in the former Halftime Pizza. A Facebook post on Oct. 11 announced the opening.

The location not only serves hamburgers and shakes but also axe throwing, with Grilla's Axe Throwing exclusive to this new second location. You'll just need to sign a waiver!

Grindhouse Video closing Knoxville storefront

Sad news, horror enthusiasts. Grindhouse Video announced that it's closing its Knoxville storefront.

The brand's only physical store, located at 7212 Kingston Pike, will close Dec. 31, according to a social media post Oct. 28.

Grindhouse Video will still operate online at grindhousevideo.com, which will be down for maintenance and inventory in January 2024. It will relaunch in February.

Tako Taco has been replaced with a new concept

After five years, Tako Taco has closed, but it's already been replaced by a new concept by the same owners.

The new concept now at 235 W. Depot Ave. in the Old City is called The Green Room. At the moment, it's only open for concerts and events at The Mill & Mine.

"The venue and the neighborhood around us are totally different than they were at that time," general manager Margaret Stolfi said. "We've just seen tremendous growth around us."

Archer's BBQ suddenly closes every location

On Oct. 23, every Archer's BBQ location closed without warning. The owner's other restaurants also closed abruptly.

Employees found out through word of mouth, including Jackson James, who had been with Archer’s at various locations for two and a half years. A district manager called him and confirmed the bad news, James said.

“I was scheduled to work Tuesday,” James said. “I asked him, (should) I just not show up for work, should I just stay home? He said the closings were effective immediately.”

No reason was given for the closures and owner William "Archer" Bagley III had no comment on the situation.

Coffee Underground adds warmth to the Strip

With a soft opening in October, Coffee Underground is one of the newest offerings on the Strip near the University of Tennessee campus. It's a small coffee shop at 713 S. 17th St. underneath the bar Undeclared.

It's hosting a grand opening Nov. 3 to showcase the space and bring in the community. Coffee Underground might just be the best new spot for students looking to study.

“Our mission has a lot to do with connecting people through good, ethically sourced coffee and creating a space where people feel welcome, included and potentially even connecting around issues impacting the community and the world,” owner Kelly Ellenburg said.

Denny's American Diner closes in Fountain City

There was one more sudden closure last month. Denny's American Diner in Fountain City closed Oct. 25, workers told Knox News. The location has been removed from the Denny's website and is listed as closed on Google.

The restaurant chain opened in 2017 at 4834 N. Broadway, which previously had been a Ruby Tuesday.

"Sure, all these places are hiring and we can go get a job probably anywhere else in that location or any other place. It is not going to be the same," former restaurant manager Michaela Peterson said. "It's not the family we built. It's not the relationship that we've built with our customers. It's not the things that we have built for ourselves there (like) the titles and positions and the pay rate."

Andy's Frozen Custard opens on Bearden Hill

Andy's Frozen Custard has opened its location in Knoxville at 6217 Kingston Pike.

The dessert shop opened Oct. 4. Customers either order from the drive-thru or a walk-up window.

“It’s going really well,” franchisee Tom Gass said in a phone interview. “It’s fun to see the Andy’s phenomenon.”

He has a contract to open six stores in the area over a six-year period. Construction just started on the third store at 513 N. Cedar Bluff Road near Knoxville Catholic High School.

New concept is going into former Blackhorse Pub on Gay Street

Kennedy Concepts is opening its first restaurant and bar from scratch in downtown Knoxville, nearly two years after purchasing Café 4.

A new gastropub called The Kennedy will replace the former Blackhorse Pub and Brewery at 430 S. Gay St. Kennedy Concepts President Chad Kennedy told Knox News he plans to be open in February.

The main dining room and bar will be remodeled, but the mezzanine will remain. Customers can expect an "chef-driven Americana menu" and craft cocktails when it opens.

Blackberry Farms Brewery sells Maryville taproom

Blackberry Farms Brewery announced Oct. 30 that its Maryville brewery and taproom has been sold to Oldham Hospitality, which will run the location as Peaceful Side Brewery.

The Townsend-based brewery will open this second location next year, and the taproom will remain open through renovations starting in December. Peaceful Side Brewery will brew Blackberry Farms Brewery beers for two years as part of the agreement.

"As a young company, we are excited to expand our capabilities and continue to focus on building our products from the ground up," said Houston Oldham, director of operations for Oldham Hospitality. "Everything we do, we make it. We're excited to build a new beer brand while also honoring Blackberry Farms' legacy."

Keenan Thomas reports for the Knox News business growth and development team. You can reach him by email at keenan.thomas@knoxnews.com.

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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Knoxville restaurants news: Potchke stays put but others say goodbye