This is great news!

I'm a huge fan of the Brasserie. Those folks know how to build a successful restaurant, and they know quality. I'm really looking forward to this.

~Russ

...Balest said that since coming to Knoxville it has always been their dream to open a restaurant in the S&W...

That figures. They did a great job making the inside of a strip mall, where the Brasserie is located, look like a grand old place very much in the tradition of the S&W. Great decor, materials, etc. Seems like the ideal team to run the new S&W Grand.

News of the gelato place is very "cool" too (heh). Ever since we visited Savannah a few years ago, where we discovered fine gelato, my short list of places needed downtown has included a good gelato joint.

Congrats and best of luck to all in the venture.

I like this a lot. I especially like that you have John Craig and Kim Trent and Beth Eason and the other new tenants. You won't find a good old boy Republican in this list. It does not have to be the usual suspects. Elizabeth is big in sustainable development and was Madeline Rogero's campaign manager. It is so very important that we got to this outcome instead of leveling the buildings in the first go around. We can't thank everyone who stepped up and took a big risk to put a stop to the first plan. Special thanks to Kim Trent and Faris Eid and Bill Lyons for being the real leaders in taking so many hours in taking the heat and pushing this and pushing Regal when it seemed like a real longshot. Thanks to the admittedly Republican mayor, but pretty good for one of those, for being flexible and open to it and making it happen. Great coverage on Knoxviews, our very own progressive news source. This is really progressive news for Knoxville.

Dude...you might consider being a little less partisan in this stuff. You only limit yourself and our possibilities as a community. Redoing a building and opening a quality restaurant are not terribly D/R activities.

And, for the record, the Mayor runs and is elected on a non-partisan basis.

Bump and update: Video highlights of remarks added at the end of the post.

I am Shane's wife and I just want to thank everyone for their kind words and support of this new and exciting adventure for us! We are all so excited about this opportunity and can't wait until September!

I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT THE S&W I USE TO EAT THERE WITH MY GRANDMOTHER. WHERE WOULD I GO TO APPLY FOR A JOB THIS WOULD BE A DREAM FOR ME THANK YOU

I used to eat at the S&W almost every Saturday afternoon when I was a child. My mother would take my two sisters and me "uptown" most Saturday afternoon to go "window shopping" on our walk down Gay Street. In those days Central Avenue and Jackson Avenue were known as "downtown" and Gay Street was known as "uptown" by most residents.

We would ride the bus to Gay Street and head for the S&W for lunch. It was a beautiful place and the food would melt in your mouth. The corn sticks and the macaroni and cheese were to die for!! There was a lady who had a piano/organ placed in the front window and she would play requested songs while the customers ate their meals. It was so nice to be entertained during lunch. A tall, slender African American gentlemen would always be waiting at the cash register to help children carry their trays to the table. He made us feel so important and Mother always gave each of us 25 cents to offer as a tip for his trouble. Believe it or not that was considered to be a good tip in those days!

Can't wait until this new version of the S&W opens....I'll try to be the first one in the door! Thanks to all concerned for saving this wonderful restaurant. I'm very pleased with the progress we have made in the uptown/downtown area of our city. Keep up the good work Mayor Haslam...it is greatly appreciated.