Kerns Food Hall planning to open this spring after delays

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - A bakery nearly 100 years old is set to get a new life this spring.

A project five years in the making, dozens of businesses are ready to open up in the old Kerns Bakery.

A developer for the project said it’ll likely open on March 11 or 18 after its opening date was pushed back a couple of times because of COVID and construction delays.

Its opening date is something a city councilor and some Knoxville businesses are looking forward to.

“We need to open. It’s costing us money not to be open, so we need to keep going and get open,” said Alex Dominguez, a managing partner in Four Stones Real Estate.

Dominguez is looking at the benefits for his team and South Knoxville. Businesses down the road are seeing the possibilities the Kerns Food Hall can bring to the area.

“It sounds like a great idea to me. I think it’ll bring a lot of growth in this area, so I’m happy to see it expand,” said Carly Baskette, owner of Mood Ring Vintage.

The Kerns Food Hall will offer dozens of food options, shopping places, bars and an entertainment area.

They’re also not staying true to the bakery’s roots, keeping old floorboards and other artifacts to preserve its history.

“There’s just something about that experience where, to me, the food tastes much better. It’s an experience that’s unreplicable,” Dominguez said.

Knoxville City Councilor Tommy Smith is happy to see his side of town continue growing.

“We’ve preserved the building but put a new twist of what can live there,” Smith said.

Dominguez said outside of malls, food halls are a new concept.

“This is spectacular,” he said.

Baskette agrees with Dominguez, adding, “If we want to go get something to eat, it’s great to have new places.”

A key vendor people will see inside is Monday Night Brewing. Dominguez said they’re a relatively big brewery based out of Atlanta.

People have also asked about pickleball being in the entertainment area as well.