Making Moves

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 …

Past Stories

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 …

Rush Hemp Farms owner Ryan Rush said his business will relocate some of its operations to North Carolina this year. The move is a response to passage of House Bill 1376 and Senate Bill 1413 which became law January 1. The law bans the sale of products with high levels …

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 …

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,” …

Blaze Pizza closed its only Blount County location in December, with staff clearing equipment from the building as late as Dec. 30. The Hunters Crossing, Alcoa location opened in 2018.  A statement issued by the company called the move “necessary” but did not go into detail on why the business …

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, …

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 …

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 …

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 …