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Building Tension
Rumors about the new ownership of Susan Key’s Market Square building are circulating on the winds downtown. Key listed the building for sale in News Sentinel classifieds a few weeks ago, but contradictory reports about the current status of the property are floating around. One part of the talk is that professional footballer and all-around nice guy Darwin Walker (the Philadelphia Eagles’ defensive tackle and former Vol who currently owns two buildings at 33 and 35 Market Square) purchased her 29 Market Square property for $350,000. Another bit in the breeze says the building is still very much on the market. Walker was unavailable for comment at press time, and Key refused to comment on the status of the sale, saying, “Buildings are up for sale all the time. Why do you guys keep harassing me about this?” Ear apologizes for bothering Ms. Key, but assures her that we have the best interests of the future of Market Square at heart. We sincerely hope the door doesn’t hit you on the way out.
So Long to Some Favorite Eateries
These are tough times for those of us who prefer their restaurants to be one-of-a-kind, distinctive places. The venerable Glenwood Sandwich Shop on its eponymous avenue in North Knoxville, is the only place we know of where you can get both of Knoxville’s old standby specialties, the Full House and Mets and Beans. Plus hamburgers and the sort of things you might find at other fine diners. The Glenwood is closing this week, forced by I-40’s failure to keep its figure.
Korea House in Downtown West has been arguably the city’s most authentic purveyor of Korean cuisine for the last several years. It’s been a favorite of the significant local Korean community, and of Metro Pulse’s food critics, and of folks who prefer their food to be both tasty and inexpensive. We hear its owner, the much-beloved Lucy, is going on sabbatical, and a new place will open in its stead; we can only hope it’s a worthy successor. We also understand that we haven’t necessarily heard the last of Lucy.
The third strike may be Havana Cafe, a.k.a. Alex’s Havana Cafe. Run since 1995 by Guy Joyner and his Havana-born wife, Sandra Valle (and named “Alex’s” in honor of Valle’s son, who died young), the half indoor, half outdoor cafe has been a success in its pastoral little portion of Homberg Place in Bearden, overlooking the backside of Cherokee Country Club’s golf course; the lush calm is punctuated by soft Cuban music and the occasional Norfolk Southern freight train. In this environment, as close to tropical as Knoxville can muster, the proprietors serve Cuban sandwiches, black beans and rice, and plantains, plus nightly specials. Though he’s heard that someone is making Cuban sandwiches in Pigeon Forge these days, Joyner believes his to be the only authentic Cuban restaurant in Tennessee. However, Joyner, who came to Knoxville from Tampa in 1970 as a Sears employee, says he’s “ready to retire.” He and his wife may move to the West Coast, where both of Valle’s daughters live.
“I’m not aggressively attempting to sell,” says the easygoing Joyner, “but it is for sale.” He has hopes of hanging up his apron by the end of the year. He’s pleased with his loyal clientele, says he’s making a good living there, and hopes to sell the business to someone who will keep the Cuban theme of the place alive.
June 3, 2004 • Vol. 14, No. 23
© 2004 Metro Pulse
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