On May 7, Kroger on Foothills Plaza Drive charged anywhere from $7 to $12 per pound for ground beef — averaging $9.50 per pound. Jessica Waters at local farm C&C Beef charges $9 if you pay cash. And she can probably show you a picture of the cow. Rising grocery
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,
Enjoy the FREE monthly post above or subscribe and keep reading below!
-
The only publication built entirely around Blount County business news.
-
Know what's opening, closing, and moving — before everyone else.
-
Real data, expert advice, and opportunities you can actually use.
-
Original reporting. Not press releases. Not wire copy.
-
Locally owned. Locally accountable. Written by people who live here.
NEWS BRIEFS
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
The Maryville City Council approved a rezoning request May 5 by Prisma Health — the corporate owner of Blount Memorial Hospital — that would allow the company to build an
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
Alcoa officials have tentatively authorized a land purchase to replace a fire station in a growing service area, signaling continued investment in public safety infrastructure amid development. The purchase agreement,
Louisville is moving to fix a safety issue on Lowes Ferry Road as it works to protect access to one of its publicly-funded recreation assets. The town plans to install
Townsend officials are preparing to use a new community plan to guide decisions on short-term rentals, workforce housing and future development in the city’s tourism-driven economy. The Community Plan Advisory
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.
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
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
Alcoa will accept vendor applications to join its annual Independence Day celebration, FreedomFest, until March 31. City staff said vendors will know whether they have been accepted by April 2.
Louisville will spend $30,000 to create a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan to unlock the potential for future infrastructure improvement grants ahead of anticipated regional growth. According to staff with the
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
MAKING MOVES
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
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
When Plant People Botanical Boutique closed its doors in March 2025, local plant enthusiasts were left without a dedicated shop close to home. Chelsea Foster noticed — and decided to
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
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
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
Championship Martial Arts owner David Church said the business will remain open without interruption as staff look for their next home. The property, located at 1906 W. Broadway Ave., Maryville,
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
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
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.
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
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
PROFILES
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
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
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
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
OPPORTUNITY FILES
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
STATE GOVERNMENT
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
EXPERT ADVICE
The Hotel Insider There is a lot of hesitation among small business owners when it comes to artificial intelligence. Some think it is too technical. Some think it is a
CBBC Bank Let me paint a quick picture for you. You come in on a Monday morning, grab your coffee, log into your business account — and something doesn’t look
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
Founder & Principle of Blockhouse Services Group Leadership is often described as the secret sauce of success. As we look at businesses, churches, governments, organizations or practically any collection or
GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAIN 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.
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
BY THE NUMBERS
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
