Business
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If you watched the South Banks development take shape on the South Waterfront, you have probably wondered what would happen to that standalone retail space along the river. With the gorgeous water tower mural by Curtis Glover on one side and Suttree Landing Park on the other, we all hoped for something special to occupy that space. As residents began moving in during 2023, it was essentially an empty gray box on paper, built to meet the retail requirement, just waiting for the right idea to take hold. Now it has a name, a point of view, and as of today, is open for business!
Welcome Earl’s to the neighborhood!
Peter Hall, a Knoxville native with Dominion Development, told me he and his business partner, Mark Taylor, always pictured a restaurant or coffee shop for the space but originally assumed it would be leased to an outside operator. They even entertained a few possibilities along the way. Then they met Jimmy Loup with Gemini Hospitality, a restaurant operator who had recently relocated to Knoxville, and the plan pivoted from landlord to owner.
That introduction led to a partnership with Gemini, the restaurant group led by Jimmy and his partner Jim Saunders. They own and operate popular restaurants Raven Steakhouse and Bella in Maryville. Together with the team from Dominion, they developed Earl’s, a new spot designed to serve residents living in the South Banks development, neighbors throughout South Knoxville, and anyone who likes the idea of a meal and a drink with a river view.
Dominion’s focus is primarily residential. Peter described three lanes: conventional market-rate housing, affordable housing, and senior living. He said the company owns about 6,000 units around the Southeast with a strong presence in Knoxville…