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From IKEA to Nordstrom, Knoxville craves big-city shopping vibes. Here’s what readers want

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From IKEA to Nordstrom, Knoxville craves big-city shopping vibes. Here’s what readers want

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Knoxville has its own cozy small town charm, but some locals are craving the elite-level experience of big-city shopping.

When Knox News asked readers what businesses they’d love to see expand to Knoxville, the hottest convenience store chains and high-end department stores topped the list.

None of the top choices from our informal survey have actually announced plans to open here − at least, not yet. But their recent expansion plans − in some cases, to nearby cities or states − suggest we might actually have a chance.

Of course, some stores are more likely to expand here than others by nature of their business models. Nonetheless, here’s what readers suggested. .

  • The Swedish home furnishings giant is known for its stylish yet affordable furniture and home goods. Many respondents to the Knox News callout cited IKEA’s warehouse-style floor of budget-friendly ready-to-assemble future, kitchen essentials and home decor as something Knoxville needs, particularly as a college town.
  • IKEA has been expanding steadily over the years, now with over 450 stores worldwide. Seventy-three of those are in the United States, according to the company’s website. In the U.S., IKEA has been opening new stores in select cities, while also focusing on smaller, urban formats and enhancing its online shopping. However hopeful Knoxville’s IKEA fans might be, currently Tennessee’s only IKEA is in Memphis. Onetime plans for a store in the Nashville area were canceled in 2018, though the Music City now has an IKEA Pick-up location for online orders listed on the company’s website.
  • The closest IKEA store to Knoxville is a good three-hour drive away in Atlanta.

  • Even in the hometown of Weigel’s and Pilot, other popular gas station convenience store chains are clearly hot-ticket items on many wish lists. 7-Eleven and to a lesser extent Royal Farms and QuikTrip all had their fans, but ultimately it came down to a close race between rivals Sheetz and top local pick Wawa. A popular convenience store and gas station that originated in Pennsylvania in 1964, Wawa has gained a cult-like following for its made-to-order food options, notably its hoagies and breakfast sandwiches.
  • Wawa currently operates more than 1,000 stores, primarily on the east coast. The company opened its first North Carolina location in Kill Devil Hills in May, with plans to expand throughout that state, as well as to Georgia, Alabama and West Virginia. Wawa is targeting Tennessee as well, with several stores planned for the Nashville area by 2025. This marks Wawa’s entry into the Volunteer State, which eventually might mean good news for its fans in Knoxville.
  • The closest Wawa to Knoxville for now is a good five-and-a-half-hour drive away in Charlottesville, Virginia. (And just saying, the closest Sheetz is a mere 88 miles away in Hendersonville, North Carolina.)

Whataburger to Nordstrom: Here’s the full list of restaurants and stores Knoxville wants

  • Founded in Dallas, Texas, in 1978, The Container Store is a specialty retailer offering storage and organization systems for home and office. The store is popular for its signature line Elfa, a modular shelving and drawer system.
  • In 2023, the company opened its 100th store, a total that includes a growing number of “small format stores,” according to a news release. Its stores around the U.S. are primarily in larger metropolitan areas. Tennessee has two Container Stores located in Nashville and Germantown, according to the website.
  • The closest Container Store to Knoxville is 148 miles away in Nashville.

  • Nordstrom began in 1901 as a small shoe store in Seattle, Washington. Over the years, the company expanded into a leading high-end fashion retailer known for its customer service and luxury brands. Nordstrom Rack, the company’s off-price division, was introduced in 1973 to provide discounted designer goods and clearance items from the main Nordstrom stores.
  • Nordstrom continues to expand its Nordstrom Rack locations, including a new store opening in Franklin, Tennessee, in fall 2024, according to the company website. This is part of a broader strategy to grow its Rack division, with plans to open a total of 19 new Rack stores across 2024 and 2025. With the focus on expanding the Nordstrom Rack brand, there are no current plans for new full-line Nordstrom stores in Tennessee listed on the website.
  • The closest Nordstrom is about three hours away in Nashville. The closest Nordstrom Rack to Knoxville is two hours away in Chattanooga.

  • Macy’s, one of the most iconic department stores in the United States, was founded in 1858 by Rowland Hussey Macy in New York City. Originally a dry goods store, Macy’s grew into a retail giant known for its wide selection of clothing, home goods, accessories and beauty products.
  • The retailer has been closing larger underperforming stores while shifting its focus to opening small-format stores across the U.S., with plans to open up to 30 smaller locations by 2025, the company announced in October 2023.
  • Knoxville’s closest Macy’s is about three hours away in Nashville.

Angela Dennis is the Knox News race, justice and equity reporter. Email angela.dennis@knoxnews.com.

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