McAlister's Deli will open March 30 at 1515 Congress Parkway in Athens with an early-guest giveaway for the first 100 people.

7 Brew opened its first Knoxville drive‑thru at Pinnacle at Turkey Creek on March 2, bringing dessert‑style coffees and fizzy sodas to West Knoxville shoppers.

Burger Boys founder Andre Bryant says the South Knoxville favorite will reopen near North Broadway after closing in May 2025. He expects the new location to open in weeks.

A complaint-led health inspection at Little Italy of Tellico Village produced a failing 65, with inspectors citing chemical storage, dated meats and storage violations.

Alice in Appalachia reopens retail at a new Gay Street location this week; cocktails will follow after permits and renovations.

A Gatsby‑era speakeasy called The Alibi operates behind The Coffee Syndicate on Gatlinburg’s Parkway, trading espresso for theatrical cocktails after dark.

Roni's Mac Bar is bringing its build‑your‑own mac bowls to Kern's Food Hall in Knoxville this spring. The company says customers can mix-and-match an enormous roster of toppings.

Inspectors tossed severely dented cans and cited sanitation and temperature lapses at China King in Lenoir City after a customer complaint.

A San Diego–born mobile coffee brand, The Rush Coffee, has opened a Knoxville truck serving espresso blends and taking event bookings.

K Brew is converting a 5,000-square-foot Broadway warehouse into a bakery and walk-in market, expanding its production and retail footprint in North Knoxville.

An inspection in north Knoxville flagged a Little Caesars for dirty bathrooms, food debris and hand‑hygiene lapses; a follow‑up found fixes and raised the grade to 94.

J.C. Holdway earned a spot on USA Today's 2026 best restaurants list, another national nod for Chef Joseph Lenn's wood‑fired restaurant.

DSB Provisions, chef Dustin Busby’s pasta-focused restaurant, is opening soon in Maryville’s Greenway Village with a dining room and grab‑and‑go service.