Tri-Star Power Sports & Marine ready to serve
Opening Monday, Sept. 8, Drew Phillippi, general manager/partner and Mike Coffee, owner/CEO purchased the former Tommy’s Boats Knoxville, 11470 Outlet Drive, next to TopGolf in Farragut.
“We worked together for the past nine years,” Phillippi said. “Mike owned an IT
company just down the road called Gravity Networks. That business was recently acquired.
“(Gravity Networks) started in 2010, and he owned it until May 1 (2025),” Phillippi said. “When Mike sold Gravity Networks — he had always admired this building (and) Tommy’s was here for not very long before they closed — he kind of inquired about purchasing it and got it for a good price.”
In deciding what to do with the building, Coffee chose to keep it as a boat dealership “because this building was built for a boat dealership,” Phillippi said.
“(Mike) still works for (Gravity Networks) — he’s got a year-long contract with them — but I decided to leave (Gravity Networks) and came here,” he said. “So, we went from IT to selling boats.”
“It’s been a lot more than I planned on, but we’re getting to the finish line now, getting opened and happy to welcome the public,” Phillippi said.
Tri-Star sells Avalon, Tahoe and Montara pontoon or tritoon boats and Excel fishing boats.
“We also do service,” the partner said. “Anybody who needs a boat serviced, we have a master technician.
“We hope to grow (the business),” Phillippi said. “We just want to make a good living, selling boats.”
Coffee also owns Tri-Star Storage, which is down the road from Tri-Star Power Sports & Marine.
“So any of our customers who need storage (boats, cars and recreational vehicles), whether it be throughout the winter or taking a trip, we can also offer that,” Phillippi said. “We also offer used and pre-owned boat sales.”
For people looking to sell their boats, he said Tri-Star will sell the boats for them on consignment.
“In the future, we hope to pick up side-by-sides and ATVs,” he added. “But, we have not found a partner to sell those yet.”
Customers also will find retail items for sale, such as life jackets, ski ropes, anchors and some clothing.
Currently during the off-season, Tri-Star Power Sports is open from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday; from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday; and closed Sundays.
“Once we get back into the boating season, I’m sure we’ll extend our hours,” Phillippi said.
The partners are in the process of creating a website.
“We will have a website very soon,” he added.
