Knoxville's Greyhound riders are finally getting something more substantial than a bench, an awning and a prayer. Greyhound plans to open a permanent terminal in East Knoxville in early 2027, four years after shuttering its longtime Old City station. The new facility is slated for a former Wendy's site on Knoxville Center Drive across from the former East Towne Mall property.
A Permanent Roof Over The Waiting Area
According to Knox News Sentinel, Greyhound has signed a new East Towne lease and is working through permitting and site improvements. The company says it remains committed to Knoxville and the broader East Tennessee region, while additional details about the terminal will be released as the project progresses.
For passengers, the biggest upgrade is basic but important: a real indoor facility with shelter and restrooms. The planned terminal is expected to replace Greyhound's current arrangement at an East Knoxville transit stop, where riders have been waiting outside for buses.
Why The Kirkwood Stop Fell Short
Greyhound's own listing still identifies its Knoxville location as the Knoxville Area Transit Bus Stop, with a location type of bus stop rather than terminal. The City of Knoxville says the Kirkwood site was designed as a KAT Superstop connecting local routes, including service along Magnolia Avenue, Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue and Burlington.
The shortcomings have been hard for riders to miss. WVLT reported that the stop lacked food, water and restrooms, while passengers described waiting hours outside during delays. City officials urged Greyhound to find a location with indoor shelter, bathrooms and food options.
The New Terminal Will Be Smaller Than The Old One
The East Towne project will not be a revival of Knoxville's enormous former downtown station. WUOT News reports that the new building will be about one-fifth the size of the original terminal and roughly seven miles from downtown, near Interstate 640, an Amazon fulfillment center and a KAT stop.
The location also comes with a bit of unfinished business. Nearby church leaders told WUOT that the privately owned road leading to the site needs repairs and better lighting, while Greyhound is expected to pay an annual fee toward road maintenance under the lease.
Greyhound's former station at 100 East Magnolia Avenue closed in 2022 after serving Knoxville for more than six decades. The building briefly found a new life during Big Ears Festival in March, when it was used as a music venue, as WVLT reported.
The new terminal is still a plan, not a boarding call: Greyhound has not announced an exact opening date, new destinations or a final list of amenities. But the company told WUOT it hopes to open in early 2027 and described the lease as a long-term investment in Knoxville, ending a four-year stretch in which intercity passengers have been asked to make do with a curbside stop.
