SOUTH KNOXVILLE — We now know one of the businesses planning to move in to a new development next to Baker Creek Preserve in South Knoxville.
The vacant old campus of Sevier Heights Baptist Church will soon be a multi-use venue called Baker Creek Bottoms.
"It's been dormant for about 16 years, but it's going to rejoin the community shortly," said development partner Tom Weiss.
He hopes it will be a destination for those taking advantage of Knoxville's Urban Wilderness system.
"It will consist of a brew pub on this side," said Weiss. "There will be a pretty large outdoor beer garden."
The brewery, a bike shop and an ice cream shop will make up phase one of the project.
Names and owners for those first two businesses have not yet been announced.
But the ice cream shop will be a second, yet different location developed by the owners of The Phoenix Pharmacy and Fountain.
Co-owner Nolan Sherrill announced the new location Monday.
"It's pretty obvious that people like ice cream, and most everybody likes ice cream," he said.
Sherrill said once he saw the open space at Baker Creek Bottoms, he knew he wanted to be part of this project.
"To expand into a different area within our own city is just, it's something that was almost too good to pass up," he said.
It won't be another Phoenix Pharmacy.
This still unnamed second store will serve ice cream, but Sherrill wants to expand the menu and serve some healthier and grab-and-go items.
He said it's still conceptual, but they want to serve more than ice cream from day one.
"It's another opportunity to be part of our community and to do good things around here," said Sherrill.
Weiss said the new ice cream shop will be a perfect fit for Baker Creek Bottoms.
With Sherrill's announcement, Weiss is more excited than ever that the development is finally taking off.
"We want to honor South Knoxville [which] hasn't received its due credit historically," said Weiss. "But that is going to change."
Weiss expects phase one of Baker Creek Bottoms to open to visitors by fall of 2019.
Phase two doesn't have a construction start date or opening date yet, but is expected to include a new hotel and hostel.
This new development will cater to cyclists and hikers using the trails at Baker Creek Preserve next door, but promises to have something to offer for everyone in Knoxville.