It’s not like any other venue in Knoxville.
From it’s stage, a band can play to a crowd of over 1,200.
For a formal event, it can seat 500 for dinner.
And for downtown Knoxville it represents a unique partnership of visionaries expanding what the area has to offer and helping downtown grow to the north.
What’s more the Mill & Mine will feature over 5,000 square feet of outdoor courtyard lawn to compliment the 20,000 square foot concert hall and event space.
All of this in the former Industrial Belting Supply warehouse – which supplied equipment for both mills and mines – at 225 West Depot Avenue.
The multi-million dollar facility represents a partnership of three longtime downtown visionaries: Developers David Dewhirst and Mark Heinz of Dewhirst Properties and Ashley Capps of AC Entertainment. The project was financed by Pinnacle Financial Partners.
“With the exciting energy and growth that downtown Knoxville is experiencing, this venue is the missing link in our cultural scene,” says Capps. “As a world class club, event, and gathering space – with state-of-the-art sound and lights – the Mill & Mine will be an exciting and dynamic hub of activity. It will beautifully complement our two historic theaters – the Tennessee and the Bijou – and have a very real,even transformative impact on the continuing evolution of our city.”
“Once the venue is complete and fully operational – we anticipate operating seven days a week,” says Dewhirst. “The courtyard lawn will have bars and shaded lounge seating for people to gather with their friends. There will be an outdoor stage as well as a big screen for showing everything from movies to sports events. It will be a multi-faceted, multi-dimensional experience unique to Knoxville”
“We’re especially excited about the diversity of what we can host here,” says Heinz. “We’ve already booked concerts, charity dinners and weddings with lots more to come.”
The City of Knoxville played the leadership role in expanding downtown redevelopment to the North and linking two historic areas.
“The Mill & Mine is another big step in the revitalization of the area around Depot Avenue and West Magnolia,” said Mayor Madeline Rogero. “The City of Knoxville was happy to assist the development with a PILOT and a commercial façade loan. On a personal note, I have fond memories of seeing great bands at Ashley Capps’ club Ella Guru’s, and I am delighted to see him involved in another local venue.”
“We’re deeply appreciative of the help the Rogero administration shows not just to this redevelopment, but to great projects across the city,” says Dewhirst. “It’s making a difference.”
Visit Knoxville is charged with bringing both business and leisure travelers to town and its President, Kim Bumpas, says new venues like this help Knoxville as a destination.
“The Mill &Mine will help expand what we have to offer,” says Bumpas. “The more we have to market increases the potential audience for Knoxville. People who visit our destination will appreciate the variety of entertainment that this venue will provide in the heart of downtown.”
The Mill & Mine will have virtually everything people could want to stage for any kind of event. Easy loading spaces, private rooms, a catering kitchen capable of serving a restaurant, which may be part of future plans. The main concert space has a second floor balcony for viewing and viewing rooms and decks along both sides.
Although the full project will not be completed until summer, audiences will get their first opportunity to experience the Mill & Mine in just a few weeks, when it will host a series of concerts during the Big Ears Festival, staring on Thursday, March 31 through Saturday, April 2. Artists performing there during the festival include jazz saxophonist and Kendrick Lamar collaborator Kamasi Washington – who was just awarded the American Music Prize – along with indy rock legends, Yo La Tengo; electronica artist Nicolas Jaar; and the legendary Sun Ra Arkestra.
“When we first saw this building years ago, we knew it had potential,” says Heinz. “Frankly, the Mill & Mine is even more than we first envisioned. And we think it will help bring even more growth to this area.”
