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Business

Fifth Third Bank expands into Farragut

August 19, 2026 by Tammy Cheek

Fifth Third Bank has found a home in Farragut.

The bank has opened a branch in front of Village Green shopping center at 11820 Kingston Pike and plans are to have a grand opening Tuesday, Sept. 22, while it will be open starting Tuesday, Aug. 18.

For the grand opening, the public can expect vendors in the parking lot, a ribbon cutting, food and other goodies, giveaways and more.

“We’re really excited to be expanding here in the Knoxville area, especially in Farragut,” Fifth Third Bank financial center manager Elizabeth Pagano said. “We know the community around us has been looking for one since our Turkey Creek branch opened, so we’re super excited to be expanding this way.

“We’re expanding overall in Knoxville with 13 branches over the next couple of years,” she said. “We’re excited to be part of that.

“I know they have been looking to come to Farragut for at least over a year now,” Pagano said about the location choice. “We were just trying to figure out the perfect location. Once this spot became available, I know they tried to jump on it because this corner lot is a pretty sought-after area, lots of traffic, right in the community also.”

Currently, the Farragut branch will be Fifth Third Bank’s fourth branch opening in the Knoxville area. There also is the Bearden location, Turkey Creek and Chapman Highway locations.

American Boat Center celebrates half-century milestone

August 19, 2026 by Tammy Cheek

For 50 years, American Boat Center has been keeping the community on the water.

“It’s pretty exciting,” ABC general manager Ryan Jones said about the family-owned-and-operated business. “I’ve been helping with the business since the early ’90s,” he said. “It goes by fast. I think we all enjoy what we do a lot, so it makes it fun to come to work.

“We’re in it for the long haul,” he added.

“My whole family works here,” Jones said. That includes his parents, Steve, the president, and Susan Moore; his sister, Courtney Kinney, who’s over operations; and Jones.

“I think [the milestone] hit us this year, ‘Wow, it’s been 50 years,” Jones said. “We weren’t necessarily trying to get to 50 years, but we try to do a good job, service our customers really well, be happy and run a good business, but it snuck up on us.”

The secret to their longevity has been taking care of their customers and employees, according to Jones.

“That’s always been a big thing with us is service,” he said. “Taking care of people after they make a purchase, so after you buy the boat, we do everything after that.”

Additionally, Jones said a lot of ABC’s employees have been with the company for a long time.

i9 Sports seeing growth across area

August 19, 2026 by Jake Nichols

Last summer, Brandon Bajema searched for youth sports opportunities for his three daughters.

Little did he and his wife know the organization and venue he found would turn into a business venture for them, too.

The process began with the Bajemas looking into youth sports across the area — and finding few answers.

“We wanted somewhere that was not a huge, ‘Hey, want to take over your life, need you there every day of the week, ultra-competitive, extra expensive thing,’” Bajema said.

The search led them to the i9 Sports organization, where Bajema’s girls started playing last spring.

“By the time they were done, the person in charge asked if we were interested in taking over,” Bajema said. “But God has a funny sense of humor, so by the beginning of August last year, we were the owners.

“It is a national brand based out of Tampa, and we are the Knoxville owners so we can serve any family in the area.”

The organization has partnered with the Town of Farragut, using the west diamond and fields 5 and 6 at Mayor Bob Leonard Park.

After 18 years as a youth pastor and plenty of downtime spent refereeing basketball games, Bajema has enjoyed the shift that i9 has brought for himself and his family.