Alcoa’s First In-N-Out Burger Clears Planning Commission Hurdle
Alcoa’s first In-N-Out Burger has moved a step closer to reality. The Alcoa Municipal-Regional Planning Commission approved concept plans and a related subdivision plat for the restaurant development at Springbrook Farm June 18. A representative of In-N-Out Burger declined to comment on an anticipated construction schedule. The proposed restaurant would be located on Tesla Boulevard […]
Just Love Coffee Cafe Owner Brings New Ideas to Walmart and Springbrook Farm Locations
A Long Island transplant who has called East Tennessee home for two decades has taken over Just Love Coffee Cafe’s two Alcoa locations — and she’s wasting no time putting her stamp on both. Lydia Donahue, who spent her career as a director of operations in the restaurant industry, acquired the Franck Street cafe and […]
Alcoa Overhauls Sign Ordinances, Offering Path to Digital Billboards with Fewer Locations
Changes to Alcoa’s sign ordinances approved in May will mean an easier process that what has been in place for developers to find pertinent information — and potentially fewer billboards in town. The new ordinances will allow advertising companies to swap static billboards for their digital cousins as long as they meet a 16-point list […]
National Car Wash Chain MOJO Relocates Headquarters to Alcoa
MOJO Car Wash, one of the nation’s largest express car wash platforms, has relocated its corporate headquarters from Dallas to Alcoa, establishing its home base at the 3205 Alcoa Hwy. Pure Magic Car Wash location. The move, completed in March, brings the company’s central operations to a market where it already has an established footprint. […]
Collectibles and More Relocates from Mall to Springbrook Farm
A sports card and collectibles shop that built a following at Foothills Mall has relocated to Alcoa’s fast-growing Springbrook Farm development, trading mall hours and rules for a community-focused storefront with room to grow. Collectibles and More, owned by Josh Elswick, 37, opened May 1 in the Shoppes at Springbrook Farm. His father, Chuck Elswick, […]
Alcoa Students Compete in National Presidential Artificial Intelligence Challenge
Update 6/11/2026 A team of fourth- and fifth-graders from Alcoa Intermediate School travelled to Washington, D.C., this month to win the national championship of the Presidential AI Challenge, a White House initiative aimed at building artificial intelligence skills in students nationwide. The team, which has worked together since January, advanced through state and regional rounds […]
The Grotto Fills a Specialty Houseplant Gap in Blount County
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 do something about it. Foster opened The Grotto at 357 Sanderson St. in Alcoa on May 15, bringing a curated houseplant shop back to Blount […]
Alcoa Eyes New Fire Station Site Amid Growth
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, approved by city commissioners last month, is currently in the due diligence phase. The city would acquire land on Hawks Landing Drive to build a […]
Subs & Such Celebrates 43rd Birthday by Raising Money for Non Profit
Subs & Such will celebrate its 43rd year in business May 1 by challenging members of the community to help raise $43,000 to support Isaiah 117 House — a national nonprofit with a Blount County location that provides temporary shelter to foster children awaiting placement. In addition to donating 43 percent of the restaurant’s daily […]
Rustic Roots Kitchen Opening Across from Public Library, Greenway
Amy Fuentes and her husband, Bert, are working to renovate the former In and Out Pizza — later Rocky’s Jamaica Sunrise — building owned by George Ling on Cusick Street across from the Blount County Public Library to open Rustic Sunrise Restaurant this summer. “It’s going to be a full-service, homemade comfort food restaurant,” Fuentes […]
Southwest Airlines Completes Inaugural Flight to McGhee Tyson Airport
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. Initial destinations will include Baltimore, Dallas, Nashville and Orlando, with Austin, Denver and Tampa expected to be added in the future. Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority […]
Alcoa Seeks Vendors for June FreedomFest
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. The event, scheduled for June 27, promises visitors music, entertainment and a professional fireworks show. Emily Assenmacher, public information officer and event coordinator for Alcoa, […]
Navy Veteran Opens Back Nine Golf Franchise at Springbrook Farm
Local entrepreneur and recently retired U.S. Navy aviator Antonio Alemar is set to open his first Back Nine indoor golf facility next month in Springbrook Farm near Just Love Coffee Cafe. The Back Nine is an indoor golf simulator franchise that allows members to play golf year-round in a climate-controlled setting. The Alcoa location features […]
Siemens Breaks Ground on Pellissippi Place Manufacturing Facility
Leading German multinational technology conglomerate Siemens AG has begun construction of an 82,000-square-foot medical device research, development and manufacturing facility at Pellissippi Place, according to Jeff Muir, communications director for the Blount Partnership. Construction is expected to take 18 months to complete. Founded in 1847, Siemens employs more than 318,000 people worldwide, but estimates for […]
Maryville Housing Authority to Increase Low-Income Housing Opportunities in 2026
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 include a mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments. The project is part of a broader effort to improve existing properties and expand affordable housing options […]
Blaze Pizza Franchise Closes Alcoa location
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 closed its doors. The future […]
Pistol Creek Stormwater Work to Begin Immediately, Prepare for Future Development
Alcoa will pay $1.2 million for stormwater infrastructure off Faraday Street, setting the stage to open an interior section of the Springbrook Farm development. The scheduled work will begin immediately and allow construction on the Werner Avenue corridor to continue. It also enables installations like the anticipated Alcoa Costco location. “We’re going to put in […]
