farragutpress

Business

New business activity heats up in Farragut

September 16, 2026 by Tammy Cheek

From one end of the town to the other, Farragut has been experiencing a heat wave of commercial growth with new businesses and new developments moving into town.

“It’s always exciting when we have a brand new business,” Town administrator David Smoak said following the opening of a new Biddle Farm business, Nektar Juice Bar last month.

“So far this year, Farragut is averaging over two new-business certificates of occupancy a month,” he said. “Farragut is a great place for businesses to thrive.

“Between the Farragut West Knox Chamber of Commerce, Visit Farragut and Shop Farragut, we have a strong network dedicated to helping local businesses grow and succeed,” Smoak said.

Biddle Farms at Town Center completed its commercial phase last year, and businesses started moving in. To date, Smoak said he thinks the developer only has a couple more open spaces left.

“Both of those are in the process of being filled right now,” he added. “They’ve got tenants that are working on leases, so we’re really encouraged that this time next year, this place will be all filled up here.”

To date, Biddle Farms has Aldi, Bradley’s Gift and Home, Elle Boutique, Super Chix, Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar, Parlor Doughnuts, Nekter Juice Bar, Chase Bank, SweatHouz, Urban Nail Bar, Diamond Gallery and Covenant Health Urgent Care.

Paris Baguettes, a bakery-café franchise, is expected to open between late November and early December in Biddle. The franchise owners are a couple of University of Tennessee alumni bringing their artisan cakes, croissants, sandwiches and specialty coffees to the town center as their first East Tennessee location.

Nearby, Pinnacle at Turkey Creek has welcomed Nordstrom Rack; Curate MedAesthetics, formerly Ideal Image; and Koma Tea & Natural Handmade Desserts, among others, according to Gabi Walsh, marketing manager for Pinnacle.

Popular Lego, collectibles store continues growth

September 16, 2026 by Jake Nichols

Patrick Burnette sorted through comics on an average Thursday, filing a collection that has grown almost as much as the children and families who pick through them.

The same can be said for the other inventory that packs the walls at Brickhouse Collectibles in Farragut, where the 55-year-old Burnette has sold Legos, comics, collectibles and other assorted items since Aug. 1, 2020.

“Farragut’s growing, man,” he said with a smile. “And I see a lot of the people as they move in. I guess they look around, have kids wanting Legos or comics, so I hear the words ‘new to Knoxville’ a lot. In six years, I still see new faces every day. The growth of Farragut is definitely making a positive impact on business.”

That impact has ebbed and flowed through the years, as Burnette cited a downturn in 2024.

“We definitely move with the economy,” he explained. “This is not a need, but a want. But no one ever really stops buying — they might not buy a $50 set but will buy a $20 set. We had a downturn a couple years ago but it’s definitely come back around in the last 18 months.”

Now, the store is on the cusp of even more growth with Burnette set to move to a larger building in the same parking lot by the middle of 2027.

“We’ll be four times bigger hopefully next year,” he said. “A lot of space for cool stuff that I can find. But it will almost be like starting a brand-new business, so we’ve got the floor plan, laying it out, looking at space for things I carry and things I’ve wanted to add but haven’t been able to yet. All of it will be in the same vein as things in here — stuff I like.”

The Lego aspect — what the store is “built on,” Burnette said, will remain at the forefront, as it distinguishes his store from other similar shops around the area.

farragutpress staffers visit University of Tennessee’s CCI

September 16, 2026 by Staff Report

On Monday, Aug. 10, farragutpress general manager Kathy Hartman and staff writer Jake Nichols visited The University of Tennessee’s College of Communication and Information (CCI).

During the visit, they walked through The Media Center, where students can “immerse themselves in hands-on experiences by taking on the same roles they’ll find in real-world workplaces,” according to the college’s website. “The Media Center offers free workshops and lectures featuring industry and academic experts,

giving students additional

exposure to knowledge and skills they’ll use in their future careers.”

This visit included a tour of multiple student-run

podcast and TV studios and a look at the student media

outlets housed within the college.

Also, there was an ongoing discussion about future collaboration between the college and the farragutpress.