83: S&W Grand

Brad and I ate here the night we got engaged. Tuesday, I took my mom there for lunch. It's on the short list for our wedding reception - the ceiling changes color in the ball room, it has a great view of Gay Street, and the pig and biscuit is outstanding. It reopened this fall after 28 years. It's so downtown Knoxville. So part of the passion of the city, the history of the people, and the rebirth of Gay Street.

Here's a little about it from Knoxville New Sentential Article on the reopening...

"Meet your friends here" was the sign in the lobby that for decades greeted patrons of the former S&W Cafeteria on Gay Street.

Meant to convey an atmosphere of fun and friendliness, a replica of the sign hangs once again as new owners have attempted to restore the local landmark that sat empty for 28 years to its former glory.

The S&W Grand, owned by siblings Brian and Stephanie Balest, who own Northshore Brasserie in West Knoxville, and Shane Robertson, the Brasserie's executive chef, is expected to open its doors this week, drawing some folks downtown for the first time in years.

"It will really be a great thing for people to be able to be there again," said developer John Craig of 500 Block LLC, a local firm heading up the $4.5 million restoration project that includes the S&W and two adjacent buildings. "As a preservationist, it's as good as it gets because it really gets to the heart of why preservation matters and that is you are preserving people's pasts."

The former S&W, with its fresh flowers in the front window and live organ music, was a favorite meeting and eating place for decades.

Young women would come in with their hats and gloves and eat before shopping or taking in a movie.

Businessmen would come in for lunch while more than a dozen civic and social clubs held regular meetings there.

"Anything that happened in Knoxville happened at the S&W," said Pilot Corp. founder Jim Haslam, who recalled going to the S&W at least once a week for lunch and once a week for dinner. "I've probably eaten 1,500 meals here. This was a great place and I think it will be a great addition to downtown."

PS - Love this photocredit too