Knoxville’s Old City is about to get a bar that comes with its own backstage. House of Strays, the project of bartender and producer AJ Tierney, is headed to Jackson Avenue with a planned fall 2026 opening. The concept pairs a cocktail program rooted in Prohibition-era classics with a black-box performance space meant for short runs and variety nights, while also pledging to send a portion of special-drink proceeds to Knoxville Children’s Theatre as it renovates a larger downtown building.
Bar And Stage Under One Roof
The roughly 1,700-square-foot venue will be split in two: a warm bar room anchored by a 27-foot wooden counter and a theater side with raised seating and a small stage, according to Inside of Knoxville. Tierney says the cocktail program leans on classics such as old fashioneds, sidecars, Aviations and French 75s, with specialty drinks tied to whatever is happening onstage. The plan calls for seasonal, narrative-driven pop-ups and regular late-night turns, including brief burlesque sets on Sundays when performances run.
From Bartender To Producer
Tierney trained in Emerson College’s comedy program, then worked as a manager at Brother Wolf before stints in New York, and says House of Strays grew out of the theatrical pop-ups she staged while managing bars. “Everyone says theater is dying. I think it just needs to be dusted up,” she told Inside of Knoxville. In the new space, she plans to produce small-cast, minimal-set plays and, when possible, split ticket proceeds with local performers.
Linking Nightlife To Local Theatre
House of Strays has pledged that a portion of proceeds from special drinks and select shows will support Knoxville Children’s Theatre as it works on renovating the Foundry, a move the theater announced after buying the historic downtown building. The Foundry plan and fundraising drive were reported by WVLT, and Knoxville Children’s Theatre outlines its mission and programs on its Knoxville Children’s Theatre. Tierney says she will also name cocktails to honor staffers and mentors from the KCT community, turning the bar menu into a bit of a backstage thank-you list.
Where It Will Be
House of Strays will occupy one side of the former PostModern Distilling footprint at 205 W. Jackson Avenue, putting it among Old City tasting rooms and cocktail bars. PostModern Spirits lists 205 W. Jackson Ave as its Old City address, underscoring how the block has become a hub for drinks-focused venues. Landing on Jackson Avenue puts the new hybrid bar-theater in front of an audience already used to concept-driven cocktail spots.
What To Expect
Knoxville’s cocktail scene has matured in recent years, with venues such as Brother Wolf and newer brasseries reshaping downtown tastes; Lilou and other recent openings suggest that audience is still growing. Construction on House of Strays is expected to begin soon, and Tierney is aiming for a fall 2026 opening, with updates and pop-up announcements rolling out through the project’s social channels. For now, she is still picking up shifts at local bars while she prepares the buildout and performance program.
