Author: Robert Berlin

Renovated Historic David Jones House Set to Open as Boutique Stay in Downtown Maryville

A 150-year-old Italianate home at 404 High Street is preparing to welcome its first guests this week, the culmination of a four-year restoration project that owner Carmyn Dunkin said nearly became more than she and her husband bargained for.     The David Jones House, built in 1874 by prominent local brickmaker and builder David […]

Banking on the Mission: Tennessee Military Federal Credit Union Turns 70

The legend goes that it started from the trunk of a car. In 1956, McGhee Tyson was still an active-duty Air Force base, Blount County was largely rural, and the airmen stationed there had few options when money ran short. So a handful of them did what servicemembers have always done — they improvised. They […]

LeConte Realty’s Galyon Earns Top Residential Real Estate Credential 

LeConte Realty agent Troy Galyon earned the Certified Residential Specialist designation in June. Administered by the Residential Real Estate Council, CRS requires agents to complete either 60 transactions or $30 million in sales volume over five years, along with 30 hours of continuing education through the council.  Galyon said the dual requirement sets CRS apart […]

Greenback Entrepreneur Selected for Knoxville Accelerator, Building AI Fact Verification Tool

A Blount County-area entrepreneur has been selected for The Works, the Knoxville Entrepreneur Center’s premier startup accelerator for early-stage tech companies poised for rapid growth. Raymond Decker, founder of Raina Ventures, is one of six companies chosen for this year’s cohort, which runs nine weeks starting July 13 and concludes with a Sept. 9 demo […]

Tennessee Business Filings Hit Record High as Blount County Growth Keeps Pace

Tennessee set an all-time record for new business filings in the first quarter of 2026, and Blount County’s own filing activity shows the same growth taking hold locally. New business filings in the first quarter of 2026 were the highest for a first quarter in the 33-year history of the data, according to the new […]

The Growth Dilemma: What the Numbers Say About Blount County’s Population Future

The narrative has become as familiar as the gridlock on Alcoa Highway: those Californians are taking over Blount County. It plays well in political ads. It fills Facebook comment sections. It packs city council meetings with residents who describe their community as being overcrowded by outsiders. But a closer look at the data — drawn […]

Clayton-Bradley Academy names Steve Nowack next Head of School

Clayton-Bradley Academy’s Board of Trustees unanimously selected Stephen “Steve” Nowack as the school’s next Head of School, effective June 10, succeeding founding director Pat Bradley, who is retiring. Board and Search Committee Chair Don Bruce announced the decision in a letter to the CBA community, saying the choice capped a global search that began in […]

New $5M Crunch Fitness Coming to Foothills Mall

Blount County is getting a major new fitness option. CR Fitness Holdings, the nation’s largest franchisee of Crunch Fitness, confirmed plans this week to open a 35,000-square-foot location at Foothills Mall where Farmers Home Furniture and Goody’s once operated — a $5 million investment that will bring about 70 jobs to the area when the […]

Cool Cat Kayak Co. Launches All-Inclusive Rentals on Tellico Lake

Cheyanne Marston spent more than 30 years as an occupational therapist before she ever set foot in a kayak. Now she is betting that Blount County residents and visitors will embrace the sport the same way she did — and she has launched Cool Cat Kayak Co. to make it as easy as possible for […]

Aerospace MRO Giant StandardAero Taps New CEO for October Transition

StandardAero, the Scottsdale, Ariz.-based aerospace engine maintenance giant with a major facility in Maryville announced June 2 that Russell Ford is retiring as chief executive officer after 13 years leading the company.     The company’s board of directors has appointed Paul McElhinney, currently a lead independent director, to succeed Ford as CEO effective Oct. […]

The Possum Set to Bring Old-School Southern Cooking to Maryville This Summer

Jack Townsend wants The Possum to feel like “a pocket in time that doesn’t exist anywhere else.” The Maryville native and chef-owner is set to open his first restaurant this summer at 313 N. Houston St. The restaurant’s unlikely name traces back to a tattoo Townsend got around 2019 — a possum eating a slice […]

Just Love Coffee Cafe Owner Brings New Ideas to Walmart and Springbrook Farm Locations

A Long Island transplant who has called East Tennessee home for two decades has taken over Just Love Coffee Cafe’s two Alcoa locations — and she’s wasting no time putting her stamp on both. Lydia Donahue, who spent her career as a director of operations in the restaurant industry, acquired the Franck Street cafe and […]

Greenback Eyes Food Truck Rules Ahead of Growth Expectations

The Town of Greenback is moving toward its first formal food truck regulations, a step town officials say is less about cracking down on vendors than getting ahead of anticipated growth before a problem arises. The topic is expected to come before the town board for discussion as soon as its next meeting, according to […]

National Car Wash Chain MOJO Relocates Headquarters to Alcoa

MOJO Car Wash, one of the nation’s largest express car wash platforms, has relocated its corporate headquarters from Dallas to Alcoa, establishing its home base at the 3205 Alcoa Hwy. Pure Magic Car Wash location. The move, completed in March, brings the company’s central operations to a market where it already has an established footprint.  […]

Two Sisters Trading Company to Open July 1 at Foothills Mall

A new gift and home décor shop built on a decade of retail experience and a love of creative design is coming to Foothills Mall. Two Sisters Trading Co. is set to open July 1 next door to Bath & Body Works, the first brick-and-mortar venture for sibling co-owners Heather Raines and Wendy Giguere, who […]

Tatooed Taco to Begin Construction This Summer on Broadway Avenue

James Tomiczek, the developer behind The Greenway Village near Gamble Avenue, is preparing to construct an elevated Mexican food restaurant concept at 205 W. Broadway Ave. in downtown Maryville.  Tentatively named “Tattooed Taco,” the restaurant will have a price point aimed at an accessible middle ground in downtown dining. “It’ll probably be more than your […]

Elite Suites to Open Unique Salon Concept at Foothills Mall in October

Elite Suites Salon Studios will open its first Blount County location at Foothills Mall in October, marking both the company’s third site and its first franchise location. Owner Kim Hennessy said the Maryville build-out will be the company’s largest yet, with more than 30 suites — outpacing the 28 at West Town Mall and 23 […]

Collectibles and More Relocates from Mall to Springbrook Farm

A sports card and collectibles shop that built a following at Foothills Mall has relocated to Alcoa’s fast-growing Springbrook Farm development, trading mall hours and rules for a community-focused storefront with room to grow. Collectibles and More, owned by Josh Elswick, 37, opened May 1 in the Shoppes at Springbrook Farm. His father, Chuck Elswick, […]

Wells Tavern Brings First Scottish Pub, Rooftop Bar to Downtown

Alice Basler has always trusted her instincts. The Maryville real estate professional once closed on a house the same day she saw it. So when she drove past a vacant building at 114 E. Broadway one evening, called a friend to get inside, and walked out 20 minutes later ready to make an offer, nobody […]

Sports Tourism Quietly Reshapes Blount County’s Economy

When Mike Myers’ father and five friends leased a muddy limestone lot from a Blount County judge for $1 a year more than 60 years ago, the plan was simple: build their sons a ballpark. Maryville College provided the first bleachers. Willocks Brothers donated block for dugouts. South Central Bell contributed retired telephone poles for […]

Little Arrow Base Camp to Host Grand Opening of New RV Park Concept in Townsend

Little Arrow Outdoor Resort will open a new RV park next month, expanding its Townsend footprint with a separate 38-site concept built around the property’s walkable surroundings. Little Arrow Base Camp, at 8429 Tennessee Highway 73, is set to open by July 1 on the former Hollow campground site, General Manager Allie Jackson said.  The […]

Alcoa Students Compete in National Presidential Artificial Intelligence Challenge

Update 6/11/2026 A team of fourth- and fifth-graders from Alcoa Intermediate School travelled to Washington, D.C., this month to win the national championship of the Presidential AI Challenge, a White House initiative aimed at building artificial intelligence skills in students nationwide. The team, which has worked together since January, advanced through state and regional rounds […]

Patel Adds Amoco Pumps to 321 Smoke Shop on Lamar Alexander Parkway

A new Amoco station opened this week at 1805 E. Lamar Alexander Pkwy., the next step for an east Maryville convenience store that has been expanding steadily since opening in 2021. Owner Jay Patel said gas pumps were always part of the plan from the day his family acquired the property at auction in 2020. […]

Longtime Area Guitarist Opens East Tennessee Guitars in Louisville

A lifelong guitarist and guitar trader has brought a new shop to Louisville. David Thomas opened East Tennessee Guitars on April 1, offering pre-owned guitars at prices he says typically run $500 to $1,000 below Guitar Center retail. Thomas, a Louisville resident who spent 40 years as a salesman for a pump company before retiring, […]

Summertime Sips to Bring Loaded Teas, Snacks to Foothills Mall July 1

Frankie Kelley has spent the past several months feeding his family and friends a lot of tea. It is, he said, part of the research and development process for Summertime Sips, his loaded tea and specialty beverage shop scheduled to open July 1 in Foothills Mall. “Everyone that comes over (to our house) gets a […]

Rockford manufacturer becomes ESOP company after 36 years of family leadership

Nisus Corporation, the Rockford-based manufacturer of pest control and wood preservation products, completed its transition to a 100% employee-owned company April 30. The move, structured as an Employee Stock Ownership Plan, transferred ownership of the company from founders Bud and Pat Dietrich — who built Nisus from the ground up starting in 1990 — to […]

Historic Clover Hill Mill for Sale

Constructed in 1921. Entered into the U.S. Department of the Interior National Register of Historic Places in 1989. Still standing with original equipment. Near junction of Hwy. 411 and Tail of the Dragon. Before mechanized agriculture and modern supply chains, local grist mills were essential infrastructure. Farmers had no practical way to process their grain […]

Women’s Pro Golf Tournament Coming to Green Meadows in August

Tour Vision Promotions and Green Meadow Country Club will host the Smoky Mountain Championship presented by Food City women’s golf tournament in Alcoa, Aug. 3-8. The Epson Tour is the official qualifying tour of the LPGA Tour, the world’s leading competitive destination for female professional golfers. Assistant Tournament Director Stan Norris said the tournament will […]

Leadership Blount Class of 2026 Graduates Celebrate Year-long Program Completion

Thirty-eight Blount County professionals completed Leadership Blount’s flagship program last week, capping a year of immersive community education and hands-on service projects that touched everything from suicide prevention to caregiver support to child advocacy. Founded in 1990 as a partnership between the Blount County Chamber of Commerce and the United Way of Blount County, Leadership […]

Townsend Riverwalk Gearing Up for Next Development Phase

The Townsend Riverwalk and Arboretum is preparing for a new phase of development, offering an asset that could draw more visitors and families to the area. Organizers said the volunteer project is shifting from reclamation to broader community programming. They have plans for a nature learning center, outdoor library and expanded educational opportunities. “We want […]

Sandwich Shop, Bakery Bring Homemade Flavor to Foothills Mall

A Nashville-trained home cook with Sicilian roots has opened a  scratch-made sandwich and artisan fudge shop to Foothills Mall. Tasha Florin and her husband Matthew opened Sandwiches and Stuff earlier this year, expanding what began as Fudge and Stuff Bakery, a vendor-event side business the couple operated at locations including the 407 Flea Market. When […]

Faith, Community Drive Greenback Coffee Shop’s Long-awaited Opening in June

After nearly five years of renovation, setbacks and unwavering faith, a Greenback man is preparing to open the Old Bank Brewhouse and Social — a coffee shop, candy store, community classroom and gathering space he describes less as a business than a ministry. Owner Jason  Mingee, 52, signed the lease on the former bank building […]

Chroma Energy Completes 1.8-megawatt Solar Project in Maryville

Chroma Energy completed a 1.8-megawatt solar installation on Mint Road in Maryville in April. The project is a partnership with Silicon Ranch and supplies energy to the Maryville electrical grid. Operators say the new panels will help the Maryville Electric Department meet growing demand for electricity in the burgeoning county. The solar array located at […]

Blount County Family Revives Dormant Townsend Mini Golf Course

A Blount County family is putting the finishing touches on a revamped miniature golf course in Townsend, with plans to open Cades Cove Golf in time for the Smoky Mountain Scottish Festival and Games May 16-17. Tina and Jerry Simmerly, along with their sons Casey, 20, and Ryne, 24, have spent months renovating a course […]

A-Thai Food Truck Opens First Brick-and-Mortar Location in Maryville

A popular Thai food truck has planted roots in Blount County with its first permanent location. A-Thai opened May 1 at the Food Lion Shopping Center on Old Knoxville Highway in Maryville, occupying the space previously held by John Henry’s Soup Company. Owners Onnicha and David Dickens initially launched the business through catering in 2022 […]

Arconic Foundation Awards $625,999 to 20 East Tennessee Nonprofits

The Arconic Foundation has awarded $625,000 in grants to 20 East Tennessee nonprofit organizations, with a significant share of the funding directed to programs spanning education, environmental sustainability and human needs. Chad Birge, Arconic Tennessee Operations Director of Manufacturing, called the 2026 allocation “possibly the largest in the history of the location,” noting that all […]

Ten years in, Louisville Mercantile Owner Sylvia Davis is Just Getting Started

Sylvia Davis did not set out to open a store 10 years ago. She and her husband Barry were driving past a strip center on Topside Road in Louisville one Saturday, noticed some home goods displayed out front and pulled in out of curiosity. The shop inside was rarely open and by chance she learned […]

Pet Sitter, Pizza Maker Among Winners at Pellissippi State Pitch Competition

Kaitlyn Brantley already knew the business worked. She had been doing it for three years. What she needed was a plan to grow it — and on May 7, she pitched that plan to a panel of judges, won first place, and walked away with a $3,000 check. Brantley’s company, Kaitlyn’s Kuddles, a pet and […]

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Twisted Sister Juice Bar, Indoor Farmers Market Opens at Huts Location

Sisters Debra Dana and Amber McGraw reopened Twisted Sister Juice Bar and Indoor Farmers Market at the Huts Development on Highway 321 near Heritage Middle and High schools in February, where they offer healthy, organic juices, protein bowls, gelato and coffee. “We’re actually doing better here than we were doing before we left the store […]

‘Let’s Be Blount’ Podcast Bridges Old, New in Growing County

Blount County is growing fast, and with this growth comes struggles. Realtors Brett Heppner and Eric Rice didn’t just understand that growth requires understanding — they launched a multiyear podcast project to help connect newcomers to the rich history and deep sense of community that many people cherish. Since launching the Let’s Be Blount Podcast […]

Subs & Such Celebrates 43rd Birthday by Raising Money for Non Profit

Subs & Such will celebrate its 43rd year in business May 1 by challenging members of the community to help raise $43,000 to support Isaiah 117 House — a national nonprofit with a Blount County location that provides temporary shelter to foster children awaiting placement. In addition to donating 43 percent of the restaurant’s daily […]

Maryville Entrepreneur Launches Private Ground Transport Service

A Maryville entrepreneur has launched Blount County’s sixth ambulance service, filling a gap in non-emergency medical transport as the county’s population continues to grow. Jim Caughron, owner of CTS Ambulance Service, spent three years navigating state licensing requirements before receiving his permit from the Tennessee Department of Health.  The company operates as a private ground […]

Commission Offers Free Real Estate Licensing Program for Students

Tennessee high school seniors can now launch a real estate career before graduation — at no cost. Now in its third year, the Tennessee Real Estate Commission’s High School Senior Real Estate Licensing Program is accepting applications for this free path to earning the base education required to sit for Tennessee’s real estate pre-licensing exam. […]

Chrisman to Open Slice & Tap Pizza Restaurant at Green Meadow Plaza

Collin Chrisman is preparing to open Slice & Tap Pizza at Louisville and Hunt roads in the Green Meadow Plaza this summer. “I’ve always wanted to get into business for myself,” Chrisman said. “It’s a great location and we know the area really well, but then I also just love pizza.” Although the previous tenant […]

Reducing Injuries on the Construction Site

Construction remains one of the highest-risk industries for workplace injuries — but the majority of these injuries are preventable.  From a physician’s standpoint, the most effective safety strategies are not just about compliance — they’re about building systems that support the body’s durability, recovery and function over time. Here are practical, high-impact steps business owners […]

‘Let’s Be Blount’ Podcast Bridges Old, New in Growing County

Blount County is growing fast, and with this growth comes struggles. Realtors Brett Heppner and Eric Rice didn’t just understand that growth requires understanding — they launched a multiyear podcast project to help connect newcomers to the rich history and deep sense of community that many people cherish. Since launching the Let’s Be Blount Podcast […]

Maryville College Computer Science Pioneer to Retire after 25 years

Dr. Barbara Johnson, the associate professor who built Maryville College’s Computer Science major from the ground up, will retire at the end of the 2025-26 academic year after more than two decades shaping the program and its students. Johnson joined the Maryville College faculty in 2001, shortly after earning her Ph.D. from the University of […]

Tyler Brothers Farm Equipment Earns Blue Diamond Blue Chip Status

Maryville-based Tyler Brothers Farm Equipment, Inc. has been named a Blue Diamond Attachments Blue Chip Dealer, the highest dealer tier in Blue Diamond’s program, and will now carry the company’s full lineup of attachments, parts and accessories, with a flagship focus on brush cutters. The Blue Chip Dealer Program is reserved for top-tier dealers and […]

Greenback Nutrition Soft Launches New Store in Old Museum Building

Longtime Greenback resident Michelle Williams soft-launched Greenback Nutrition on April 7 in the former Greenback Museum space between the Greenback Diner and the new museum location on Morganton Road. “I’m working with the owner of Southern Twist, Christi Kawa, to provide our community with more options for healthy food,” Williams said. For the past 18 […]

Maryville College Expands AI Summit to Businesses and Nonprofits

Maryville College is bringing its second regional AI summit to the Downtown Center May 12–13, expanding beyond last year’s focus on classroom applications to include business and nonprofit uses of artificial intelligence. The summit will gather professionals to discuss how AI is reshaping day-to-day work and its varied cultural and environmental implications, with sessions tied […]

Local Food, Beverage Business Owners Find an Appetite for AI

In an industry where business owners contend with widely swinging input costs, demand sensitivity and labor challenges, artificial intelligence is no longer just for the larger chain businesses.  Local business owners are using accessible and affordable tools to decrease risk, improve profits and create better customer experiences. Who is using it and what are they […]

Rustic Roots Kitchen Opening Across from Public Library, Greenway

Amy Fuentes and her husband, Bert, are working to renovate the former In and Out Pizza — later Rocky’s Jamaica Sunrise — building owned by George Ling on Cusick Street across from the Blount County Public Library to open Rustic Sunrise Restaurant this summer. “It’s going to be a full-service, homemade comfort food restaurant,” Fuentes […]

One Week in the Life of a Greenback Family Working Together to Build a Popular Barbecue Food Truck Business

It’s tricky to figure out how many food trucks are operating in Blount County. However, just the city of Maryville reports more than 35 are permitted to operate within city limits. There could be many more in the county. But in 2024, when AJ Jenkins started telling his wife, Cristie, sons Jayden, 17, Caleb, 18, […]

Southwest Airlines Completes Inaugural Flight to McGhee Tyson Airport

Southwest Airlines Flight 3534 from Nashville arrives at McGhee Tyson Airport at 12:23 p.m. on March 5, marking the airline’s inaugural flight and the start of regular service to Knoxville. Initial destinations will include Baltimore, Dallas, Nashville and Orlando, with Austin, Denver and Tampa expected to be added in the future. Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority […]

Community Unites to Transform Rockford School Courtyard Outdoor Space

Rockford Elementary School officials, city leaders and area businesses have partnered to convert an underutilized central courtyard into an outdoor center focused on giving students a place to read, gain hands-on gardening experience and gather for small events. “We’re calling it our Reading and Exploration Center,” explained Principal Chad Tipton. The idea for the project […]

Contract Awarded for LPRF Grant Project

The Friendsville Board of Mayor and Commissioners awarded a $340,246 contract to Oak Ridge-based Nitzschke Communications, Inc. at its March 5 meeting to complete a Tennessee Local Parks and Recreation Fund grant-funded project. Although the Tennessee Office of Outdoor Recreation Grants awarded the funds in 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the project and increased material […]

Navy Veteran Opens Back Nine Golf Franchise at Springbrook Farm

Local entrepreneur and recently retired U.S. Navy aviator Antonio Alemar is set to open his first Back Nine indoor golf facility next month in Springbrook Farm near Just Love Coffee Cafe. The Back Nine is an indoor golf simulator franchise that allows members to play golf year-round in a climate-controlled setting. The Alcoa location features […]

Mac’s Pharmacies Consolidates Lowe’s Drug Store, City Drugs

 After almost 100 years of operation, Lowe’s Drug closed its East Broadway location last month to consolidate with City Drugs on Lamar Alexander Parkway. “There were a number of factors that came into play,” explained Mac’s Hometown Pharmacies CEO Morgan Hunnicutt. “One of the biggest factors was the battle against Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs)” like […]

Rage Room Adds Franken Dogs Restaurant to Service Offering

Rocky Top Rage Room owners Brittany Willis and husband Tim Williamson expanded their Maryville business in February by opening Franken Dogs at 1811 W. Broadway Ave. Franken Dogs operates next door to the rage room and serves customizable hot dogs and specials, along with canned and bottled beverages. About 95% of the menu centers on […]

Maryville College Grad Earns Partner Role at LeConte Wealth

Maryville College graduate Alex Willard has been promoted to partner at Le Conte Wealth, where he will serve as director of Purpose-Built Planning and client advisor. “Alex has earned this through his passion for helping clients, embracing our team-first culture, and developing into a leader in both internal and community endeavors,” said Kevin Painter, managing […]

Ayoka Ranch to Open 10,000 Square Foot Venue Near Tail of the Dragon

After four years of planning and construction, Alyssa and Brendan Nickle will host their first event at Ayoka Ranch in April. The event center sits on 58 acres near the Tail of the Dragon and includes a 10,000-square-foot event barn, groom’s lounge, bridal suite and plans for 19 onsite rental cabins. “We’re wrapping up construction […]

Brumit Restaurant Group, Inc. to Open Arby’s Restaurant on US. 411

Multi-brand restaurant company Inspire Brands will open its 134th Arby’s store this month at 2107 U.S. Highway 411 South, near the Waffle House and where Secure Self Storage is under construction, according to District Manager Rebecca Clark. Clark said she is seeking management staff and that construction on the building should begin this month. The […]

Sellars Becomes Superintendent of Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Charles “Charlie” Sellars has been named superintendent of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park after more than a year as acting superintendent, park spokesperson Katie Liming announced in late February. Raised in Clyde, North Carolina, Sellars became acting superintendent in January 2025 after former superintendent Cassius Cash resigned to become CEO and president of the […]

Maryville College Launches Online Alumni Business Directory

Maryville College has launched a public-facing alumni business directory to promote Scot-to-Scot support after graduation. The free listing service offers alumni-owned businesses the opportunity to connect and display branding at their workplaces. “We’ve been working to make sure alumni are connected with students, connected with the Career Center to offer mentorship, internships, job opportunities and […]

Siemens Breaks Ground on Pellissippi Place Manufacturing Facility

Leading German multinational technology conglomerate Siemens AG has begun construction of an 82,000-square-foot medical device research, development and manufacturing facility at Pellissippi Place, according to Jeff Muir, communications director for the Blount Partnership. Construction is expected to take 18 months to complete. Founded in 1847, Siemens employs more than 318,000 people worldwide, but estimates for […]

Waylon’s Place Reopens in Townsend with New Management and Vision

Townsend family restaurant Waylon’s Place reopened March 1 under new general management, according to owners Keith and Shawna Freant. Missy Loveday has worked in the restaurant business for more than a decade and brings experience from Riverstone Family Restaurant, Good Vibes & More in Townsend, as well as several restaurants in Gulf Shores, Alabama. “I […]

Tennessee Program Helps Businesses Tap Grants, Tax Credits for Hiring

A new state employment incentive program launched in November 2025 seeks to make it easier for employers to access business incentives, tax credits and fund talent pipeline development. “Basically, TNWorks creates a no-wrong-door approach to workforce development for any size business,” explained Tyler Asher, assistant commissioner for the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. […]

Maryville Housing Authority to Increase Low-Income Housing Opportunities in 2026

Maryville Housing Development Corporation announced it will break ground this month on a $3 million, 11-unit housing complex near the Blount County Health Department on McNabb Place.  The development will include a mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments. The project is part of a broader effort to improve existing properties and expand affordable housing options […]

GSMP Survives Proposed Funding Cuts

The National Park System remained open and funded thanks to federal appropriations approved Jan. 23, despite a partial government shutdown in early February. The Fiscal Year 2026 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act ensured $2.88 billion in funding for the country’s national parks through the end of FY2026 – a figure mostly steady with […]

New Businesses | January 2026

December 2025 0 January 2026 0 YTD 0 Source:  Blount County Clerk’s Office Minimal License = $3,000 – $99,999 Gross Receipts Regular License = $100,000+ Gross Receipts   Alcoa (9) A Team Carpentry Remodeling LLC | 1796 Dalton St., Alcoa, TN 37701 | Austin A Ayers | Regular DJD Trucking LLC | 135 Andy Carr […]

2026 Tennessee vacation guide released

The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development released the 2026 Vacation Guide heavily focused on Dolly Parton’s impact on the state’s tourism industry. The 150-page magazine, produced by Franklin-based Journal Communications, Inc., is distributed to an estimated 500,000 visitors annually and helps boost local tourism by serving as a how-to travel guide for visitors, said TDTD […]

Blount County School Board Approves Restroom Updates, Security Vestibule Construction

Restrooms in the Heritage High School commons area will be updated, and security vestibules will be constructed at seven county schools after the Blount County Board of Education approved funding for the projects. Planning for a new elementary school in Walland, however, was put on hold at the Feb. 5 meeting to allow board members […]

Cadform 3D prepares to open manufacturing location in Greenback

Greenback business owners William and April Lewellyn purchased the building at 6700 Morganton Rd. near the caution light where they are making improvements in preparation to move three dimensional printing operations for CADform 3D. “The majority of what we manufacture are industrial parts that companies cannot find on the market anymore,” April said. For example, […]

Wildflower Garden Center Preparing to Open Location in Rockford

Crews began working to open the Wildflower Garden Center on Old Knoxville Highway where Innovative Garden Center was located before moving to the Midland Plaza. “We’re going to open just after Spring because obviously the building has been sitting there for so long and nothing is really up to code,” said owner Amber Houser. While […]

Founder of Van Metre School of Dance, Appalachia Ballet Dies at 86

Cheryl Van Metre, founder of the Van Metre School of Dance and the Appalachian Ballet Company passed away January 9.  She was born in Maryville, Nov. 23, 1940, and pursued training in performance and instruction with the Chicago Ballet, the National Ballet of Mexico, England’s Royal Ballet Company, and the Kirov Ballet in the former […]

Local Schools Beat Statewide Average Scores in Report

Blount County school districts outperformed the statewide average in the latest Tennessee Department of Education School Report Card, released in late January. But the scores are calculated using a formula that requires context to fully understand, said Maryville City Schools Director Mike Winstead. The results also carry economic implications for Blount County, said Jessica Belitz, […]

Broadway Commercial Real Estate Upgrades Bring Three Additional Storefronts to Area

The former James Upholstry Building underwent extensive renovation and code compliance updates  in December to create three storefronts across from the new Eagleton Baseball Fields on East Broadway. “Our objective is to attract tenants who will benefit from the enhanced facilities and contribute to this vibrant location,” said Pete Dedes, Commercial Realtor with The Real […]

Lamberts Open New Locations on Broadway

After suffering a major setback this year when the building where they launched both businesses was sold and began undergoing major renovations, Angela and Charlie Lambert moved both Southern Pies & Bake Shop Cafe and Flooring Solutions to their new location at  1116 and 1118 E. Broadway, Maryville. “We were already outgrowing our downtown space,” […]

Broadway Commercial Real Estate upgrades bring three additional storefronts to area

The former James Upholstry Building underwent extensive renovation and code compliance updates  in December to create three storefronts across from the new Eagleton Baseball Fields on East Broadway. “Our objective is to attract tenants who will benefit from the enhanced facilities and contribute to this vibrant location,” said Pete Dedes, Commercial Realtor with The Real […]

Allevia Technology buys Historic bank building

Longtime friends and business partners Stefan Wilson and Drew Miles purchased the historic Bank of Maryville building originally built in 1915 at the  corner of Cusick and Broadway, Downtown Maryville. Allevia Technology began vacating two locations on East Broadway to establish its new headquarters in the bottom floor of the building in December. “I have […]

RT Lodge & Carriage House changes leadership

After more than 20 years as the General Manager of Oldham Hospitality’s RT Lodge, Gary Doyle passed the reins to Kelley Harris at the end of 2025.   Doyle began his hospitality career at the first Ruby Tuesday restaurant opened in Knoxville in 1972. He became the innkeeper and manager at Blackberry Farm in 1980 […]

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New Businesses | December 2025

Source:  Blount County Clerk’s Office Minimal License = $3,000 – $99,999 Gross Receipts Regular License = $100,000+ Gross Receipts   ARN Gallery & School LLC,3904 Poplar Grove Rd, Maryville TN 37804 – Alejandro Rodriguez Bledsoe Heritage Works,325 Agate Circle, Maryville TN 37804 – Chip Bledsoe Blood Stripe Brewing,355 Gill St Ste 110, Alcoa TN 37701 – […]

Lambert’s Open New Locations on Broadway

After suffering a major setback this year when the building where they launched both businesses was sold and began undergoing major renovations, Angela and Charlie Lambert moved both Southern Pies & Bake Shop Cafe and Flooring Solutions to their new location at  1116 and 1118 E. Broadway, Maryville. “We were already outgrowing our downtown space,” […]

Walland Man’s Program Gives Aggressive Dogs a Second Chance

Shane Hawkins is a successful entrepreneur, but he got there on the hardest pathway. “Well, I didn’t know any better back then, and I was just trying to get through life the best I could,” Hawkins said while sitting in the middle of a brightly painted room where a wall mural of dog pictures and […]