Steve McNair’s former restaurant reopens

The restaurant once owned by Tennessee Titans quarterback Steve McNair has reopened.

According to WKRN-TV, Gridiron9 is open again after Alexis Springer purchased it from McNair’s estate.

McNair was slain in July 2009 shortly after he opened the restaurant. His girlfriend at the time shot him in what police called a murder/suicide.

The restaurant had been closed since the slaying.

Restaurant officials said they would have a grand opening in November.

Source: Wate.com

GM recalling about 400 workers in Tennessee

A source familiar with the decision says General Motors is recalling about 400 idled union workers to its Spring Hill plant in Tennessee to build a four-cylinder engine.

An official briefed about the new jobs who declined to be identified because an official announcement is pending provided the count to The Associated Press on Tuesday.

GM spokeswoman Sherrie Childers Arb said a media advisory about a Friday announcement at Spring Hill was forthcoming but she declined further comment.

The Detroit Free Press first reported the decision citing an anonymous source.

GM laid off about 2,000 workers at Spring Hill last year, and about 800 of those workers have relocated to GM plants in other states.

Source: Wate.com

Downtown businesses ready to cash in on football season

Kick-off is still three days away, but downtown businesses are already looking forward to the cash that’s coming. This weekend in particular means not only football, but Labor Day fireworks as well.

“You can drive the boat on the top or from the bottom,” explained Tony Karkoviak as he gave 6 News a tour of his houseboat parked outside of Calhoun’s on the River.

Karkoviak lives in Oak Ridge. He has been part of the Vol Navy for several decades now, but still claims, “I’m not much of a football fan. I just come along for the party.”

He drove his houseboat the 10 hours up the river last week.

“You’ve got to get here early, otherwise you won’t get a good seat,” he said.

He’ll stay docked in the prime spot until October.

“We do a huge business for the first home football game, especially when there’s a new coach. Everybody’s interested. They want to come see what’s going on. And then Boomsday is crazy,” said Calhoun’s on the River manager Steve Fletcher.

As for business the rest of the season, that all depends on the Vols.

“Sometimes people just say when they’re not winning, let’s just watch on TV,” Fletcher said. “So we really like them to win!”

Other businesses are also affected by wins and losses.

“Usually the hotels do fill up a lot earlier than they have this year. I think that might be part the economy, part the coaching change,” said Michael Parisi, Holiday Inn Worlds Fair Park General Manager.

But so far, the future looks bright.

“We’re excited that we’re full for Saturday. We’re full for Oregon next weekend and we’re hoping to continue that with Florida and UAB. I think a lot of people are waiting to just see how the team is going to perform and make their choice if they want to come to Knoxville,” Parisi said.

The Vols face off against UT Martin at 6 p.m. Saturday. It’s the first of their seven home games this season.

Source: WATE.com

UT-K welcomes first MBA Entrepreneur Fellows

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville is kicking off its MBA Entrepreneur Fellow program this fall, where students are paid to start a business while earning their degrees.

According to a news release from the UT College of Business Administration, it is the only program of its kind in the country.

Each fellow receives a $30,000 scholarship – $10,000 for each of the program’s three semesters.

They must make satisfactory progress toward launching or growing their business idea to continue receiving funding.

This year, three students received the fellowships. They are: Paul Haymore from Marietta, Ga., and Matt Parton and Brian Mohney from Knoxville.

Mohney called the fellowship “a dream come true.”

Source: WATE.com

SMW Automotive to create 170 jobs in Middle Tennessee

SMW Automotive will open a plant in Shelbyville and Tennessee officials say the $26 million capital investment will create 170 jobs over five years.

Gov. Phil Bredesen and Economic and Community Development Commissioner Matt Kisber announced on Thursday the global auto supplier’s 131,000-square foot project in Bedford County.

A spokeswoman for the Michigan-based supplier of automotive chassis and suspension parts referred questions to Tennessee officials.

A statement says SMW supplies parts for companies such as Nissan and Volkswagen.

Applications for production jobs will be accepted immediately at the Tennessee Career Center in Shelbyville. Production is scheduled to start this fall.

Source: Charlotte Business Journal

New Whirlpool plant to add 130 jobs in East Tennessee

Whirlpool Corp. will build a cooking appliance plant and distribution center creating 130 new jobs in Cleveland.

Whirlpool executives said Wednesday the project is part of the Benton Harbor, Mich., company’s commitment to manufacturing in the U.S.

The company will close a 100-year-old plant in Cleveland as part of the upgrade.

Construction is scheduled to start later this year, with a projected cost of $120 million.

The plant is expected to start production of built-in cooking appliances in early 2012.

Whirlpool currently has more than 2,000 employees in its Cleveland-based operations.

The existing factory should be empty by mid-2013 and Whirlpool will likely attempt to sell it.

Source: WATE.com

Hiring at Chattanooga VW plant at halfway mark

Volkswagen executives say their hiring in Chattanooga has reached the halfway mark, with more than 1,000 employees training for production of a new midsize sedan.

Production of the yet-to-be-seen VW is to start early next year at the $1 billion plant near Interstate 75.

VW Chattanooga spokesman Scott Wilson said Monday that Cathy Allen, 38, of Chattanooga, has been recognized as the 1,000th employee hired.

Hiring at the plant will continue into 2011.

Production jobs start at $14.50 an hour and in three years increase to $19.50 an hour.

Source: WATE.com

Business owners, residents happy with Gay Street 100 block renovation

It’s less than two weeks since the 100 block of Gay Street re-opened in downtown Knoxville.

The decades old supports beneath the street got some much needed repair. Utilities also got an upgrade and the city widened the sidewalks for a more pedestrian friendly feel.

All the upgrades have been tough on residents and business owners who had to deal with a lot of dust and noise.

Everyone 6 News spoke with said they are happy with the changes. “Before they redid the street. this side of town felt rundown, kind of neglected, so it’s nice to be revitalized,” said Sean Christman, who’s lived on the 100 block since 2007.

Those who own businesses on this part of Gay Street have seen some positive signs.

Daniel Monday, chief marketing officer for Slamdot, a web design company at 108 Gay Street, says walk-in business has been picking up.

“We’ve already seen it in the last couple of weeks it has been open. A lot of people calling who have come out on the weekends and saw our signs and the called back and scheduled an appointment, so we are very excited about what’s going on so far and what’s to come,” Monday said.

To help celebrate the opening of the 100 block, business owners are planning a big event on October 1.

“They are going to be closing the street from Jackson all the way to Summit Hill,” said Elaine Frank, a web designer with Slamdot. “There is going to be live music. There is going to be a live rock band. There is going to be some dances.”

Everyone who spoke to 6 News said this is a good time to own a business or live in this part of downtown.

“We are more accessible, like when there is family visiting, or going to your car or off loading groceries it is a lot easier,” Christman said.

“The infrastructure of the entire street has been rebuilt, so it’s a lot more sound now, you can feel safe walking down here knowing the infrastructure is up to date,” Monday added.

“I think it looks great,” said Frank. “I think it really ties us in with the rest of downtown.”

However, the construction wasn’t good for everyone. Nama Sushi Bar is moving from the block due partially to the construction.

Source: WATE.com

Loan program to help Tennessee businesses reduce energy costs

Gov. Phil Bredesen says the state is launching a $50 million energy efficiency loan program to help Tennessee businesses reduce costs.

Bredesen said at a news conference on Wednesday that the program will be administered by Pathway Lending, a community development financial institution that provides loans to businesses lacking access to traditional financing options throughout Tennessee.

Businesses may apply online on the Pathway Lending website with first round applications due by November 1, 2010.

To be eligible for a loan, a business must have a complete third-party energy audit, assessment, or vendor proposal with detailed project energy savings.

Gov. Bredesen said the company will offer below-market rate loans, financing up to 100 percent of improvements aimed at reducing energy consumption, lowering overall costs and improving profitability.

The loans can be repaid with the energy costs savings derived from each project.

Source: WATE.com

Knoxville Center Mall adds 4 new stores

There’s new optimism in the Knoxville Center Mall. Four new stores have recently opened.

HQ features skateboards and skateboarding accessories including clothing and body jewelry.

Active Pets offers pets including iguanas, birds, fish, dogs and rodents, along with pet supplies

Bee Wicked Candles has a variety of locally made candles, gifts, accessories, lamps, oils and diffusers. Shoppers can also make their own candles.

“Bee Wicked is a tenant that has a retail outlet in Morristown, and decided to move into the Knoxville market so it’s a good opportunity for local and regional retailers to really come in and be prosperous,” said area mall manager Tim Hill.

Education Station features a variety of products for teachers to stock up their classrooms.

The mall still has plenty of empty store fronts and for lease signs, but shoppers hope the mall is getting on the right track.

“I came here around Christmas time. It was almost like going to a ghost town. It was strange because so many stores were closed. But actually it is improving and it is great to see it improving because I would hate to see just one mall in Knoxville,” said one shopper, Cheri Baker.

Knoxville Center Mall management says shoppers had been asking for a pet store, but others are looking for better clothing stores.

“Mainly the clothing stores, Banana Republic, Aeropostale things like that mainly. Your clothing stores will bring people back,” said shopper Sherri Long.

Mall management says they expect to announce more new additions in the next few months.

Source: WATE.com