KNOXVILLE, Tennessee — Business in South Knoxville keeps growing with the announcement of a new bar and food truck park on Sevier Avenue.
Over the past couple years, that main thoroughfare in South Knox has gotten a face lift.
Just in 2018, South Coast Pizza opened, Alliance Brewing Co. expanded, and up near the Gay and Henley Street bridges, Regal's new headquarters and two apartment complexes opened their doors.
Plus in Island Home, Print Shop Brewing became Knoxville's newest local brewery and tap room.
"It's a really good community and it seems like they really do take care of the businesses that are here and there's a loyalty," said James Tourville.
That's why he and David Yousif decided to open a business on Sevier Avenue next year in an old mechanic's garage.
"We felt that a food truck park was the best way to kind of utilize this building," said Tourville.
The childhood friends from Farragut are opening Hard Knox Garage next spring. They signed the lease on the old garage in December.
Hard Knox Garage will have a permanent bar inside with local beer on draft. Seating will be inside and outside, with rotating food trucks parked out front.
There are plans to build a stage for live music and a back patio for expanded seating for humans and dogs alike.
Down the road from the planned food truck park, designs are drawn up to turn a 35,000 square foot building into a mixed-use market place called South Coast Commons.
"That big change from an empty vacant abandoned building to a new re-purposed reused building ... has really increased property values in this area of Sevier Avenue and the Old Sevier neighborhood," said Dawn Michelle Foster, Redevelopment Director for the City of Knoxville.
Across South Knoxville, Baker Creek Bottoms will house an ice cream shop and brew pub near Baker Creek Preserve. Those are the first of several businesses planned for the development. The first phase should open by fall 2019.
Another Aubrey's location is set to open in the old Kerns Bakery building next year, too.
With a constant stream of people moving to the area, new business owners like Yousif and Tourville are hopeful they'll become a long-time staple in South Knoxville.
"You know this is just home," said Yousif. "We want to give something back."
Hard Knox Garage is finalizing their permits with the city and hope to open to the public in March 2019.