Changing Face of the Strip
Hamburger Henry’s, The Pub, Beer Sellar, O’Charley’s, Ruby Tuesday, Sam and Andy’s—the face of Cumberland Avenue has changed over the years and continues to do so. While many UT students and Knoxvillians accept this change, others question the reason behind the constant shift.
“I look at the things when I was here as a freshman, like the Campus Pub, and know that these things I got to enjoy won’t be here if my children choose to come to UT,” Harriet Cozart, senior in finance, said. “People who are 40 years old talk about the things they enjoyed about Knoxville when they were in school here, and we have no clue what they’re talking about, because it’s not here anymore.
“The biggest hot spot may be out of business in three months for all we know.”
Some business newcomers to the Strip agree.
“It’s the hardest thing in the world on this Strip,” Paul Jarrett, owner of Firehouse Subs, said. “Five places have opened and closed since I’ve been here.”
Jarrett has leased on Cumberland Avenue for 18 months and has already seen the fluctuation in business.
Home for the Holidays
“Business goes down 50 percent at Christmas, 25 percent in the summer, and about 40 percent over Spring Break,” Jarrett said. “If I didn’t have really popular food, I’d be gone too. You can’t pay 12-month bills on a seven-and-a-half-month income.”
Tom Weiss of Weissco Inc. owns several properties on the Strip. He explains that the tenant base has moved toward restaurants and bars. Many buildings are owned as investments and leased to businesses.
“Retail or mercantile business used to be more viable when there were more students who didn’t have cars and fewer options on campus,” Weiss said.
Mitchell Taylor (’68 economics), a broker with NAI Knoxville, agrees that the mobility of the students has changed things.
“Most kids have cars and live off campus, so there is less of a captive market,” Taylor said. “Many dorms have nice cafeterias where parents pay for meal tickets, so Cumberland eateries struggle.”
Both Weiss and Taylor recognize the aspects that separate the successful businesses on the Strip from the ones that fall short.
West Knoxville Calls
“Many businesses fail due to a combination of factors: poor planning, lack of sufficient operating capital, and poor management,” Weiss said. “Some businesses fail to recognize the summer may be slower.”
“The Strip competes with the entire city for the student dollar, and many Cumberland property owners have not upgraded their facilities to lure the food/shopping dollar from West Knoxville,” Taylor said.
“Parking is bountiful off-campus, where [it’s] scarce on the Strip,” Taylor said. “The successful businesses are the ones that have adequate parking, outdoor lighting, and modern upgrades and appearance.”
Most alumni remember good times on the Strip. Corum Webb (’00 business, ’04 law) says his fondest memories are of O’Charley’s restaurant, now closed. “I lived at O’Charley’s for about a two-year period; so much so that I seriously contemplated having my mail forwarded there. I didn’t shop on the strip because I’m not much for second hand clothes or marijuana accoutrement.” Webb is an attorney in Nashville.
Courtney Conner Hoffman (’97 public relations/journalism), owner of the Media Kit in Atlanta, recalls many evenings at the former Library bar.
“Monday and Wednesday nights were $1-long-neck beers,” Hoffman says. “[I would] joke about going to the ‘Library’ until 2 a.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays. Too bad my mom was in on the joke.”