Sunday, November 16, 2008

Sullivan's

Patrick Sullivan's Saloon is a landmark building in the Old City at the corner of Jackson and Central Avenues. It's been there since 1888. The original saloon was closed down in 1907 by a local anti-saloon movement; I guess the upright citizens of Knoxville were pretty well fed up with all the trouble these saloons had been causing.
After the saloon was shut down, rumor has it that some enterprising entrepreneur established a brothel on the second floor, but no one has been able to prove this yet. Still, it makes a good story.
The building was bought in the 1970s by Kristopher Kendrick, a local businessman who saw the potential for historic preservation at a time when the status quo was "tear it down."
Today it's a restaurant with a music venue upstairs.

9 comments:

Stefan Jansson said...

A beautiful building. The anti-saloon movement doesn't sound like very happy people!

Hope said...

I just love this building! It's one of my favorites in Knoxville!

Hilda said...

Kudos to Mr. Kendrick! It's a lovely building!

I keep wishing I was a billionaire so I can do the same for Manila's old buildings. =(

marley said...

It's a lovely building, with a lot of history.

D said...

Well thank goodness for a businessman with some historic appreciation and foresight!
This building is a beauty!

Jane Hards Photography said...

I just love the word saloon. Such an evocative word of a forgotten world.
Sadte it maybe but's it's a gal with a history and she still looks good.

angela said...

Good for Mr Kendricks....it's a lovely building. Is the interior as interesting?

Jim Klenke said...

I bet its just as nice on the inside as it is on the outside.

Leedra said...

It is such a lovely building. I think the best in the Old City.