Tue
Feb 23 2010
06:00 pm
Nama moving in next door to Regal Rivera?
By: R. Neal

We are told that Nama is moving in next door to the downtown Regal Regal Riviera cinema where Gridiron Burgers was going to be before they folded.

Nama currently has two locations, one in Bearden and one on the 100 Block of Gay St. which is currently closed for construction but still accessible to pedestrians. Guess they are moving from the 100 Block to the 500 Block?

UPDATE: Bill Lyons notes this City Council agenda item. Guess that confirms it.

UPDATE: Bill Lyons reports in comments that City Council approved the lease by a 9-0 vote.

Topics:
Bill Lyons's picture

Proposed lease of Cinema Retail Space

Submitted by Bill Lyons on Tue, 2010/02/23 - 6:13pm.

It is on tonight's agenda. For the details go to the following link and scroll to item 11b in resolutions and click on blue outline around summary.
(link...)

By the way the detailed agendas with are put on line at this link either late Thursday or early Friday every other week before the council meeting. The council members get their packets with hard copies of this information delivered on Thursday PM.

R. Neal's picture

I'm still trying to picture

Submitted by R. Neal on Tue, 2010/02/23 - 6:17pm.

I'm still trying to picture dinner and a movie, featuring Nama octopus tako sashimi followed by Dukes of Hazard IV starring Johnny Knoxville.

R. Neal's picture

I haven't been there, but

Submitted by R. Neal on Tue, 2010/02/23 - 6:42pm.

I haven't been there, but their menu looks pretty good.

rocketsquirrel's picture

Randy, it's really good.

Submitted by rocketsquirrel on Tue, 2010/02/23 - 7:31pm.

Randy, it's really good.

sugarfatpie's picture

I'm still trying to picture

Submitted by sugarfatpie on Wed, 2010/02/24 - 9:24am.

I'm still trying to picture dinner and a movie, featuring Nama octopus tako sashimi followed by Dukes of Hazard IV starring Johnny Knoxville.

Yes Bubba, it is indeed hard to picture that, but I could see a nice rainbow roll, maybe an "ocean commotion", and some house infused saki followed by something like Michael Clayton, or Avatar.

Dear Bubba, it appears you are trying to smear my wife's favorite restaurant in Kville (even after the sale) as somehow out of step with what the average Joe really wants and thus not a good idea. Even if this is only in jest...have you ever tried to get a table at Nama on even a Tuesday night? Always a wait. And forget TH-Sun unless you have Olympic caliber standing-in-line muscles.

Bill Lyons's picture

Lease was approved

Submitted by Bill Lyons on Wed, 2010/02/24 - 11:06am.

I easily could have missed it but have not seen that the outcome has been reported anywhere as of yet. FYI City Council did approve the lease last night by a 9-0 vote.

Michael's picture

Good News

Submitted by Michael on Wed, 2010/02/24 - 4:10pm.

The Bottom Line is reporting:

A new concept will be unveiled at the existing Nama location when the 100 block road construction project is complete.

So it looks like the result will be a net gain for downtown.
~m.

R. Neal's picture

From Bill's link above

Submitted by R. Neal on Tue, 2010/02/23 - 6:21pm.

From Bill's link above (thanks, Bill!), it's a ten year lease proposal. More details:

(link...)

Michael's picture

Oh well

Submitted by Michael on Tue, 2010/02/23 - 6:41pm.

No. Not particularly good for the 100 Block. But it is good for the city to have a tenant, and I expect Nama will welcome additional space. And life has not been easy for them during this construction.

On the other hand, it would have been nice to have recruited an additional business, rather than one we already have. Maybe once the 100 Block gets past this construction the current space will attract a new tenant. The current location has limitations that would preclude most restaurant models from working out (i.e. size of kitchen and dining area).

Whatever goes in, I think it would do best by focusing on catering to the few hundred people that live within a block of its front door.
~m.

rocketsquirrel's picture

no, on balance this is good

Submitted by rocketsquirrel on Tue, 2010/02/23 - 7:28pm.

no, on balance this is good news. I was worried that they might abandon the 100 block and keep Bearden. Not a net gain. But in this market with 100 block construction to boot, at least downtown hasn't lost Nama.

In unrelated program activities, saw a realtor friend at the store this afternoon. A listing in Fourth and Gill on Luttrell Street that's been sitting through the winter suddenly has multiple offers.

Sounds like a spring thaw may be upon us.

unlisted's picture

Worshiping Mediocre

Submitted by unlisted (not verified) on Sat, 2010/02/27 - 4:52pm.

seams like everyone on here worships Nama. Its overpriced for the mediocre sushi they serve and to attack poor "R. Neal" for voicing his opinion just because it differs from yours........... Realy.......

sugarfatpie's picture

So where can you get better

Submitted by sugarfatpie on Sun, 2010/02/28 - 5:01pm.

So where can you get better sushi for less in Knoxville?

I'd love to know, as I am continually held hostage by my wife's sushi habit/obsession.

Sure you can get better sushi in OTHER towns for less, but we've looked long and hard here. SOBU is cheaper, but not better. And Nama's 1/2 price nights are hardly overpriced.

R. Neal's picture

Just for the record, I never

Submitted by R. Neal on Mon, 2010/03/01 - 9:19am.

Just for the record, I never said anything about Nama sushi except a) I haven't tried it, but b) their menu looks pretty good.

StaceyDiamond's picture

nama

Submitted by StaceyDiamond on Sun, 2010/02/28 - 8:41pm.

Never been to nama. I found it amusing when a Beacon reporter did a review and said "The place is pretentious and overpriced!" But its always crowded so they must be doing something right. I like sushi and cupcakes and bacon, but there is something that seems too pretentious and cutesy about Knoxville's food trends, like eating bacon cupcakes at a yoga studio. This is a little off post, but was on my mind.

Mykhailo's picture

Well, what are those

Submitted by Mykhailo on Mon, 2010/03/01 - 12:18am.

Well, what are those expectations?

Bacon sushi. Bacon. Wrapped in bacon.

And an all-bacon cupcake, with bacon fat frosting.

And a purse made of bacon that you can carry bacon in.

Mykhailo's picture

I mean, bacon's good and

Submitted by Mykhailo on Mon, 2010/03/01 - 12:24am.

I mean, bacon's good and everything, but the Great Hipster Bacon Frenzy of 2009 started to wear thin pretty quickly. Time to move on.

Bbeanster's picture

The "Great Hipster Bacon

Submitted by Bbeanster on Mon, 2010/03/01 - 5:19am.

The "Great Hipster Bacon Frenzy" – best phrase I've heard today. I never quite caught onto the utter coolness of saying "ummm, bacon," and I agree with Stacey. Something about the combination of cupcakes, bacon and yoga just seems like it's trying too hard.
Not that I don't like a nice rasher, not-too-crisp. Don't think I could stomach salo, though.

S Carpenter's picture

I suppose I know what was on your cornflakes this morning

Submitted by S Carpenter on Mon, 2010/03/01 - 8:23am.

Starting my week on this note, thanks!

You didn't attend. You don't know the people who put it together.

So it's logical that you decide you must call out a pretentious event sponsored by people trying too hard. The fact is your opinions are presumptuous and you aren't trying hard enough.

It's not a trend. It's a way to have fun, meet people, eat good local food, and encourage the community to come together. We're here all the time and it is an attitude that we are trying to live out day to day.

You are the ridiculous aginners of the day.

Mykhailo's picture

You are the ridiculous

Submitted by Mykhailo on Mon, 2010/03/01 - 9:30am.

You are the ridiculous aginners of the day.

I see, and raise a bacontini. And bacon toothpaste.

S Carpenter's picture

You don't know what you're talking about ergo ridiculous aginner

Submitted by S Carpenter on Mon, 2010/03/01 - 9:38am.

Swine & Dine Menu:

Holly Hambright, General Manager Nama Sushi Bar Bearden, Catering Consultant EOS Catering:
Lobster Bacon “Bisque”, Bacon Wrapped Sea Scallop, Corn and Bacon Timbale

Dave McCauley and Chris Dufree Pitmasters for Q the Pig a BBQ Production:
Smoked, bacon wrapped, stuffed peppers with a smokey, three cheese and bacon macaroni with a Strawberry Habanero sauce

Robert Birkholz, Tomato Head Maryville:
Confit pork shoulder croquette with frisee, alan benton’s country ham, sorghum vinegarette and country ham/cola jus

Meg Parrish and Lindsay Beeson of Craft and Spoon:
A Dessert table of: Bourbon Bacon Caramel Corn, Bacon Toffee Ice Cream with Maple Cones, Bacon Toffee Bars, Sugar Cookies Coffee from Java Coffee, creamer, sugar

Mykhailo's picture

You don't know what you're

Submitted by Mykhailo on Mon, 2010/03/01 - 9:49am.

You don't know what you're talking about

Hey, I got no problem with you guys, or with the local baconfest stuff. We've got an actual legitimate reason to celebrate bacon in ET, but the larger nationwide bacon fashion trend is just stupid.

edens's picture

Confit pork shoulder

Submitted by edens on Mon, 2010/03/01 - 10:34am.

Confit pork shoulder croquette with frisee, alan benton’s country ham, sorghum vinegarette and country ham/cola jus

Pairs well with PBR...

Mykhailo's picture

Don't think I could stomach

Submitted by Mykhailo on Mon, 2010/03/01 - 9:34am.

Don't think I could stomach salo, though.

Vodka is the key.

sugarfatpie's picture

Is this a haiku?

Submitted by sugarfatpie on Mon, 2010/03/01 - 9:17am.

Ahh bacon
how I loved you once
No longer on my diet

Bbeanster's picture

OK, I dunno about

Submitted by Bbeanster on Mon, 2010/03/01 - 10:51am.

OK, I dunno about "pretentious," and I certainly wouldn't apply it to Peg, who is top drawer and Magpies, which is one of my favorite places (sadly for my pitiful attempts at dieting), so I'll take that part of my 'agreement' back.

Bbeanster's picture

There ain't enough vodka

Submitted by Bbeanster on Mon, 2010/03/01 - 10:53am.

I have a friend who took a job in Kiev about a decade ago whom I used to kid about salo (the thought of which turns my stomach).
He loves it now.
(shudder)

Goose Creek's picture

Pretentious

Submitted by Goose Creek (not verified) on Mon, 2010/03/01 - 6:54pm.

I felt the atmosphere at glowing bowl was pretentious, but I put up with it as it was convenient to work and healthy fast food is a rare & wonderful thing. Especially dishes that are a lot of trouble to make at home (restaranteurs take note).

So is the bacon festival a way of saying "we're just down home folks"?

Or is it saying "we're so healthy we can get away with eating bacon cupcakes".

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