Uncovering History, Carrying on Legacy
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6 Black-owned businesses, organizations to support in Knoxville area
LOGAN STARKEY Contributor
Black-owned businesses may not be exactly new to Knoxville, but there are more now than ever. Jarnigan & Son Mortuary became the first Black-owned business in Knoxville in 1886, and the city is rich with Black-owned businesses and organizations in 2025. From nonprofits to luxury clothing, here are some Black-owned businesses Knox County residents can visit in honor of Black History Month.
Girl Talk Inc.
Founded by Denetria Moore, Girl Talk Inc. is a nonprofit working to empower girls in the Knoxville area.
Girl Talk Inc. offers a variety of services based on grade level. Girls between sixth and 12th grade are offered one on one mentoring from an adult peer to help guide them through life’s challenges. They also partner with Knox County schools to offer group mentoring sessions for girls between grades three and five.
The organization also offers two different academic scholarships and hosts a multitude of events such as college tours, sleepovers and an annual retreat.
Marc Nelson Denim
Owned by Marcus Hall, Marc Nelson Denim is a luxury clothing store right here in Knoxville.
Located at 700 E. Depot Ave., the store operates on what is known as small batch crafting, meaning the clothes are intended to be limited in quantity. The team crafts 214 versions of each new style they design unique to specific customers.
Customers can make appointments to ensure they receive made-to-measure, made-to-order denim.
The store is open six days a week, Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Oglewood Avenue
Owned by Jade Adams, Oglewood Avenue aims to make all people plant people. Located at 3524 N Broadway, Adams’ boutique offers a wide variety of indoor plants.
The boutique offers pop-ups, workshops and events to help educate current and future plant owners. They also offer additional services like consultations for plant owners who are struggling to maintain care and need assistance.
Oglewood Avenue has plants for owners at every level of experience. They are open from Wednesday to Saturday between the hours of 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and between 12 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Sundays.
Billie Rae’s BBQ
Billie Rae’s BBQ was founded in 2023, with its 1920 E. Magnolia Ave. location opening in April 2024.
Owned by husband and wife Patrice and Eugene Chandler, the restaurant prides itself on making soul food style barbecue. The restaurant offers classic barbecue options like turkey ribs, and they also offer catering services.
Billie Rae’s BBQ is open from Tuesday to Saturday between 12 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Euphoric Phrames
Photography
Euphoric Phrames Photography is owned and operated by Sabrina Turner, who holds a photography degree and eight years of experience.
Turner photographs all kinds of clients, from weddings to sports photography. The Euphoric Phrames studio is located at 4313 Eagle Drive. A portfolio of previous work is available on the company website, where
clients can also book appointments. The studio is open from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. between Thursday and Saturday and is open from 11:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays.
Shora Foundation
The Shora Foundation is a nonprofit tutoring organization owned and operated by Tanika Harper. The foundation is named after a Nigerian word meaning “safe place.”
The Shora Foundation runs as an after school program for children between the ages of six and 13. This program ensures all homework is completed. They also provide daily snacks and weekly meals to help with food sustainability issues. Children are given project-based learning assignments to help stimulate education.
Through a partnership with the University of Tennessee Department of Psychology, the Shora Foundation offers group and individual therapy sessions.
The after school program isn’t the only one offered, as students can be registered for a summer program. The foundation also hosts family nights to increase engagement.
The Shora Foundation, owned by Tanika Harper, is an after school program in Knoxville aimed at furthering the education of kids outside of school with interactive learning experiences. Courtesy of Tanika Harper
Publix tackles Tennessee River’s plastic problem
PATRICK BUSCH Staff Writer
In early February, Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful announced that supermarket chain Publix would become the title sponsor of the program.
Publix becoming a title sponsor means big developments for the foundation. Kathleen Gibi, executive director of Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful, explained the program’s progress and what a title sponsor could potentially mean.
“So they’ve committed $15,000 to the program,” Gibi said. “And that’s allowed us to purchase more supplies, increase the quality of those supplies and it gives us more staff support to help have more communications with our ongoing river mile participants.”
Nearly ten years ago, the nonprofit Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful was formed. With the goal of cleaning up and beautifying the Tennessee River, the foundation organizes cleanups and removes large amounts of trash from the river.
As a part of achieving that goal, the foundation came out with the Adopt-A-River Mile program. Similar to many highway adoption programs, individuals, groups, corporations, churches, nonprofits or donors can adopt a mile-long stretch of the river. Adoptees go
out on the river and remove trash.
The Tennessee River is 652 miles long, and 238 river miles have been adopted. Gibi stressed that the new title sponsor is an exciting development along with the other adoptees and has much potential to improve the river’s status.
“So far, we’ve had 635 volunteers reported from our cleanups,” Gibi said. “Since 2021, the total number of cleanups organized by our Adopt-A-River Mile participants that has been reported is 60. So far, those volunteers have removed 275,819 pounds of trash.”
The nature of the trash problem in the Tennessee River is that much of it pools together and collects in coves along the river. As Gibi elaborated, the problem of pollution into the river nowadays is largely over, but so-called “legacy litter” persists.
“We see this as the end game,” Gibi said. “Our mission is to educate and inspire others to take action, so if we’re able to get that legacy litter out, the part that’s hard, with a big group, and we’ve got people that are monitoring our river miles. We’re not going to wind up with this problem again. For Publix to really breathe life into the program with this funding, it’s allowed us to increase the number of participants we can serve.”
“A recent study found the Tennessee River to be the most plastic-polluted river in the world that has been studied to date,” a me-
The Tennessee River that Publix is sponsoring. Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Emily Gowder / The Daily Beacon
dia relations manager for Publix said. “Sustainability is ingrained in the Publix culture and represented in our Mission Statement through valuing our associates… and ensuring economic stewardship for our stockholders.”
Publix prides itself on being able to help improve the Tennessee River as Keep America Beautiful is a unique program.
“Publix is proud to be the first grocery retailer to sponsor Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful,” Krauss said. “Keep the Tennes-
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see River Beautiful is the nation’s first Keep America Beautiful affiliate to focus solely on a river.”
The new sponsor, Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful and Gibi are encouraged about the progress the foundation will be able to make this year.
Gibi shared a goal of getting half of the river’s miles adopted by the end of this year, amounting to 85 new mile adoptions. The program continues to fight for a cleaner and beautiful Tennessee River.
2/19/25 0022 2/19/25 0022 Magnolia Hall No Police
02/20/25 1537 02/20/25 1537 5th Ave at Blackstock Rd. Arrest
02/21/25 0148 02/21/25 0148 2351 Kingston Pike
02/22/25 2154 02/22/25 2154 Western Ave at Ailor Ave. Arrest
02/22/25 0043 02/22/25 0043 Mossman Building Alternative to Arrest
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02/23/25 0039 02/23/25 0039 2215 Forrest Ave. Arrest
02/23/25 2044 02/23/25 2044 James Agee St. at Clinch Ave
Find your passion, spark change: VOLthon leverages organization to make impact on children’s lives
SARAH PORTANKA Engagement Editor
We wouldn’t be “Volunteers” if we didn’t volunteer our time and service to a good cause. That is precisely what students have found through VOLthon within the University of Tennessee and the greater East Tennessee community. VOLthon is an organization at UT that puts on a Miracle Network Dance Marathon to raise money and awareness for East Tennessee Children’s Hospital.
Isabelle Ponder is a senior majoring in psychology and sociology and president of VOLthon.
“I was treated at a Children’s Miracle Network Hospital when I was younger, and Dance Marathon is a national program through CMN hospitals,” Ponder said. “So when I got here, I heard about it, and I found out that we were helping our local CMN hospital. I was in love with the idea and wanted to join.”
“Having that experience of being the kid that’s stuck in the hospital and doesn’t know what’s going to happen and how scary that can be, but getting the help that I needed, you know, and the good treatment, I think when I’m meeting these kids, it really has a profound impact on me,” Ponder said. “I might not have had the exact same thing that they are currently going through or anything, but I can relate to the feeling of being in a hospital in how scary that might be.”
Ainsley McCurry is a junior special education major and vice president of operations with VOLthon. She attended a private high school in Raleigh, North Carolina, where she was first introduced to Dance Marathon. Like VOLthon, her high school Dance Marathon helped their local children’s hospital. McCurry knew she wanted to continue her involvement in college.
“I have just always loved leadership and being connected to a community,” McCurry said. “When I moved to Tennessee, I don’t have any family here. … So I really just wanted to be involved with something and connect to my community a bit more.”
Being a special education major, McCurry has spent the past three years building relationships with miracle kids and their families at ETCH.
“I think it’s really great to be able to connect with them and show them that they have people who are looking out for them and thinking of them,” McCurry said. “Their lives are very much filled with hospitals and good news, bad news and all that kind of stuff.”
Ponder recalls a specific relationship she was able to build with a young boy named Noah. As he was receiving cancer treatment last spring, Ponder was able to visit
him and bring him Spider-Man toys.
“It’s so great having personal relationships with these kids because they are the most inspiring people,” Ponder said.
For both Ponder and McCurry, seeing the tangible impact and growth through building relationships with ETCH patients has been the most rewarding part of their experiences.
“We’ve watched them grow. A couple of them, I’ve seen for three years now, and they just keep getting bigger,” McCurry said. “It’s so fun to see them each year. They look so much taller and so much older. And then you see them out in public every once in a while, and they get excited to see you because they recognize you.”
Last year in Dance Marathon, VOLthon organized a new activity called “miracle kid meet and greet.” For this activity, each participant was given trading cards with information about each kid as conversation starters.
“We have a miracle kid who has autism,” Ponder said. “He loved it. He struggles to talk to people with just normal conversation, but when all of these people were like, ‘Oh, I hear you love this,’ he was really getting into it.”
The relationships that VOLthon participants build impact not only the kids but also their families.
“His mom came up and thanked us afterwards and was like, ‘That was so special for him, he felt like he could be participating in what was going on, and he had a
great time,’” Ponder said. “So that was super special to me because my brother has autism, so I was so glad that we could make that experience a good one for him.”
Each year, VOLthon puts on a series of small events leading up to the Dance Marathon in February to raise money for ETCH. Two years ago, VOLthon raised $160,000 to buy a lifetime ambulance that is able to travel across the state and help families out and bring them to ETCH. Last year, the funds went to buy a new incubator for the hospital.
“We’re talking about our future generations,” Ponder said. “If we do this thing today, it will have a profound impact on the future generations of tomorrow. And that is something we should care about.”
One of the focuses of the fundraising component is not only to help patients and their families but to help the hospital itself.
“I think that it’s really important to share with people and let people see those tangible outcomes,” McCurry said. “You see that this money is going toward something and it’s helping those kids out. It’s something that the hospital doesn’t have to worry about anymore. You see the numbers of how expensive it is to maintain a hospital and this money is not always guaranteed. Our totals fluctuate each year, but every dollar goes to something.”
McCurry’s involvement with ETCH is something she has used to help people in her personal life outside of VOLthon as well.
“I nanny for a family whose little girl got super sick a few months ago, and I told them to go to ETCH because I knew that ETCH would help them, and they did,” McCurry said.
Beyond helping kids in her personal life now, McCurry hopes to carry the lessons and relationships VOLthon has taught her into her future career.
“Kids deserve to be kids for as long as they can, no matter what they have to go through,” McCurry said.
McCurry is currently on a five-year track to earn her master’s degree in special education. After graduating, she hopes to become an elementary special education teacher and put her passion for helping kids to fruition in the classroom.
“As a teacher, any and all of those struggles that we can take away and help them through, I think we should,” McCurry said. “Being that person that is always in their corner no matter what. We’re always there on the good days, and we’re also there for the bad days. I think every kid needs someone that’s there for them.”
Discovering your passion and using it to get involved and make change is something McCurry hopes everyone can find.
“No matter what it is, I think you should always find something to be involved in,” McCurry said. “VOLthon is a great place to be involved in on any level, whether it’s on an internal staff or just supporting us from the outside. No matter what, you make a difference.”
Dance Marathon participants play a game with miracle kids. Courtesy of Isabelle Ponder
Knoxville commuting changes: Gay Street Bridge’s impact on students, residents
KACIE BURNS Staff Writer
During a press conference on Feb. 12, Mayor Indya Kincannon announced that Gay Street Bridge could never reopen to vehicular traffic due to expensive costs.
A major change regarding the future of the Gay Street Bridge was announced by city officials last week. This decision will impact the University of Tennessee students and Knoxville residents who commute between campus and South Knoxville.
The bridge temporarily closed on June 25, 2024, after severe structural damage made it unsafe for use. While the bridge can’t bear the weight of vehicles, the city hopes to reopen it for pedestrians and cyclists by early 2026 given that repairs could last for at least a year. The Knoxville City Council is scheduled to meet in March to authorize the necessary $2 million for repairs and additional testing.
Mayor Kincannon also emphasized the hope of having the bridge able to support emergency vehicles as well as KAT buses on a limited and controlled basis by the use of a gate.
Kristin Farley, communications director of Knoxville, shared that welfare was the top priority when making this decision.
“Our decision around the Gay Street Bridge is all about safety. We must acknowledge that the bridge is 127 years old, and it has exceeded its expected lifespan of 70 to 80 years. Like many steel bridges of this age, it was not built with redundancy, meaning if one part fails, the entire bridge fails,” Farley said.
The Gay Street Bridge was previously a popular route between downtown Knoxville, campus and South Knoxville to avoid the traffic of other bridges in the area. This decision is sure to raise many concerns from students who were relying on the bridge reopening for cars.
The permanent closure of the bridge to cars will mean continued congestion on alternative routes such as the Henley Street Bridge and the James White Parkway Bridge.
Izobel Phillips, a senior studying management and resident of South Knoxville, expressed frustration with the decision to close the Gay Street Bridge permanently for cars.
“Since the bridge closed in June, the traffic on the Henley Street Bridge has become a nightmare, despite the time of day,” Phillips said. “While I get the need for safety, it feels like South Knoxville commuters were overlooked in this decision.”
The closure presents numerous challenges for student drivers— however, it could improve accessibility and safety for pedestrians and cyclists.
Farley noted that reopening the Gay Street Bridge will increase connectivity within the Knoxville community.
“Reopening this span, in any capacity, helps increase the linkage from downtown to South Knoxville, specifically Sevier Avenue,” Farley said.
Farley also shared that the city plans to conduct more frequent inspections of the bridge moving forward— possibly every six months —to prevent any issues from arising in the future.
The Knoxville City Council will soon determine if this plan will move forward. If approved, the city will focus on making the necessary structural reinforcements to make the bridge safe for non-motorized use.
The Gay Street Bridge’s future will mark a significant shift in the infrastructure of Knoxville and will impact many students and residents of South Knoxville.
The potential of a walking and cycling bridge could be a change that students may come to appreciate, making Knoxville more pedestrian-friendly. All eyes will be on the City Council meeting in March to see if this plan will progress.
Knoxville’s Gay Street Bridge connecting UT campus and South Knoxville. Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025. Courtesy of Daniel Hahofer
Remembering first Black man to attend UT
How his fight for equal opportunity tore his family apart for generations.
SHELBY WRIGHT Editor-in-Chief
After three long years of legal battle, a young man was finally able to walk through the halls of the University of Tennessee as a student. But not just any student — the first ever Black student to attend UT.
Gene Mitchell Gray Sr. graduated from Knoxville College with a Bachelor of Science and a dream of becoming a doctor. However, the year was 1949. While he had the brains, he did not have the money or “correct” skin color to pursue the higher education which would be necessary to enter the medical field, according to strict segregation laws in the Tennessee Constitution.
“He didn’t want no special treatment. He just wanted equal treatment,” Arthur Gray Jr., Gray Sr.’s grandson, told The Daily Beacon in an interview.
After Gray Sr. was denied acceptance to the university on the basis of his race, he and three other Black Knoxville men — Joseph Patterson, Lincoln Blakeney and Jack Alexander — filed a lawsuit against UT in a Federal District Court.
Gray Sr. was so adamant about going to UT because the school was his only feasible option.
He could have moved north to attend universities that had already been desegregated. However, he wanted to stay in Knoxville due to “financial reasons and family obligations,” according to what his former wife, Doris Gray Coleman, told The Orange and White in an article published Jan. 26, 1952.
“I don’t have any rich uncles, so I guess I’ll have to do it myself,” Gray Sr. told The Knoxville News Sentinel in an article published Jan. 12, 1952.
Gray Sr. was not the first Black man to attempt to apply to UT’s graduate school. Many had tried all throughout the 1930s, but all had failed.
Gray Sr.’s lawsuit was appealed to the Supreme Court, where it was tossed out
sion and hostility would arise. But after his first day of classes he told me that everything went well except for one Negro photographer who followed Gene and made him feel uneasy.”
However, this peace would only be momentary as the media hounded Gray Sr., putting intense pressure on him and his family.
Gray Sr. became nationally recognized for his courage in a long legal battle, being mentioned in Jet Magazine, The Pittsburgh Courier, The Chicago Defender and other Black weekly newspapers, as well as local Knoxville news outlets like The Orange and White, The Knoxville News Sentinel, The Knoxville Independent Call and The Knoxville Journal.
While fighting in the courts, Gray Sr. worked two separate jobs to provide for his wife and two children, three-year-old Gene Gray Jr. and 14-month-old Larry Gray. A year later, Mr. and Mrs. Gray would welcome their third child, Arthur Gray Sr. — also known as “Pete” to the family — the father of Gray Jr.
The Beacon reached out to speak with Pete about his father. However, before he could be interviewed, he tragically passed away on Feb. 12, 2025, at the age of 71.
Unfortunately, according to Gray Jr., Pete may not have had much to say about his father as Gray Sr. left early in his childhood due to all the strife his pursuit of higher education and equal opportunity caused the family.
“He achieved his goal — it just tore the family apart,” Gray Jr. said.
While pursuing the lawsuit, Gray Sr. worked as a bellhop for the Arnold Hotel in downtown Knoxville alongside his mother, Bernice Taylor. Taylor worked as a maid and lived in a nice, small home in the Lonsdale community.
Bad press drew much unwanted attention, and Gray Sr. and his mother were fired from their jobs at the Arnold Hotel the day after his first day of class.
portune time,” The Orange and White reported in an article on Jan. 23, 1952. “Since Gray (Sr.) is a non-veteran, he must meet all the financial problems alone. This creates a two-fold problem: paying for his education and supporting his family.”
Despite this, Gray Sr. refused to back down and continued pursuing his education, but some of his surviving family still wonder if he made the right decision — wondering what their lives would have been like if he had stopped pursuing the case.
Unfortunately Gray Sr. never finished his Masters degree at UT. After one year, he dropped out and moved away from Knoxville, leaving his wife and children behind. He did end up finishing his Masters at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, became a physician, and moved to Amherst, Massachusetts.
Gray Sr. then became the founder and CEO of several biomedical corporations and received two patents for dialysis procedures, according to a note published by the Beacon on Jan. 12, 1995.
He stayed in Amherst until he died in 1989, only coming back to Knoxville to visit his sister on occasion, according to his family.
Pete seldom saw his father again and blamed the university for his family’s hardships during his childhood. Pete’s mother, now a single Black woman in the deep South in the ‘60s, had three young children to support all on her own.
and given back to the Federal District Court after UT attorney John Hooker told justices that the university would abide by the ruling from Federal Judge Robert L. Taylor, which permitted “Negro” students to be accepted by UT.
During the winter quarter of 1952, Gray Sr., age 22 — one week after the quarter started with “no restrictions” or segregation in classrooms, bathrooms or water fountains.
Starting Jan. 12, Gray Sr. began pursuing his Masters in biochemistry, and took his first class in calculus and audited a chemistry and physics course.
Gray Sr. would soon be joined by Patterson, Blakeney and Alexander in September.
“The day before he entered U-T, I was frightened because Gene would be alone on the Hill,” Gray Coleman told The Orange and White. “I was afraid that maybe ten-
Gray Sr. then got a job with the Knoxville Iron Company, which he was also fired from because of the lawsuit and negative press attention.
“All our relatives pretty much got fired from their jobs,” Gray Jr. said. “They ended up losing all their homes and relocating.”
According to an excerpt from Jet Magazine on Feb. 14, 1952, “Gray said he was ‘frozen’ out of his job and given the ‘cold shoulder’ when he applied at other establishments for another job. … Meanwhile, a group of Knoxville Negroes moved to underwrite his current expenses as a biochemistry student.”
Because of this, Gray Sr. and the rest of his family were forced from their neighborhood and into Austin Homes — a projects community that the Gray family struggled to escape for generations.
“The situation arises at the most inop-
Gene Mitchell Gray Sr. was the first Black man to attend the University of Tennessee as a graduate student. While he never graduated from UT, his legacy persists and spirit continues on through his great-granddaughter, Arnashia Gray, a current student at UT. Courtesy of the Gray family
Arthur Gray Sr., also known as “Pete” to the family was the youngest son of Gene Mitchell Gray Sr., the first Black man to attend the University of Tennessee. Courtesy of the Gray family
ARTS AND CULTURE
“Can you imagine going from a house to the projects? Getting uprooted and all of these things,” Gray Jr. said. “And all of a sudden, you can’t put food on the table, all because somebody wants to go to better themselves. So yeah, there’s a lot of trauma there.”
For decades, the Gray family stayed pinned against UT, refusing to even consider the university as a post-high school option.
Gray Jr. joined the military and never thought that one day he would have a daughter who would beg to attend the university that he believed tore his family apart.
Today, Arnashia Gray, a junior studying journalism, freely walks through the university halls that her great-grandfather fought so hard to have the right to. And for this, despite it all, Gray told the Beacon that she is grateful.
“My dad hated UT for so long, and I just was feeling like, ‘Let bygones be bygones,’” Arnashia said. “But I think I hold that history with me so much deeper now, and so my time at UT feels a little bit more emotional.”
And now, although it took a while to get used to, her father is grateful that she is at UT, too.
Arnashia is an active member of the UT community, holding a leadership position in the music industry club and the Black Students for Artistic Expression organization. She is even a part of UT’s legacy Chamber Choir. Here, she has met so many of her best friends and is pursuing the higher education her great-grandfather dreamed of.
trying to put my ill will or my ill feelings on my daughter because the ultimate goal is to get an education to better yourself.”
“Times have changed,” Gray Jr. said. “This is your opportunity to make UT, Knoxville, Tennessee as a whole, whatever you want, to make it work. And I’m not
Today, Gray Sr.’s name is seldom heard nor recognized for the trail he blazed for every Black student who followed in his footsteps.
Aside from a portrait in the African American Hall of Fame in the Black Cultural Center, an annual pioneer award and
a historical marker of desegregation on the Hill, Theotis Robinson Jr. usually takes all the credit for being the first Black student at UT.
However, Robinson was not the first Black student — he was the first Black undergraduate student, beginning classes at UT in 1961 — nine years after Gray Sr. started classes as a graduate student.
“I want people to know that (my great-
grandfather) was the first,” Arnashia said.
“And even though he didn’t stay at UT long and the others that came after him probably left a longer legacy — I think that he is just one of those unsung heroes in history. And it just takes one person to take that leap so that other people can be brave enough to do the same.”
A family portrait of Gene Mitchell Gray Sr., his wife Doris Gray Coleman and their two children, Gene Gray Jr. and Larry Gray as published in The Pittsburgh Courier, a Black weekly paper in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Feb. 9, 1952. Courtesy of the Gray family
Arnashia Gray, Gene Mitchell Gray Sr.’s great-granddaughter who now attends the University of Tennessee and studies journalism. Courtesy of Arnashia Gray
New bakery, Euro Delights, brings Eastern European food culture to downtown Knoxville
KACIE BURNS Staff Writer
For anyone craving authentic European flavors, a new gem has opened in Knoxville. Euro Delights, owned by Igor Cheban , opened on Jan. 17 and houses a specialty grocery store, bakery and café. It offers a wide variety of Eastern European-inspired products, deli items, freshly brewed coffee and pastries.
According to Instagram, the growing Slavic community in East Tennessee was a big inspiration for opening Euro Delights. The owners aim to offer “the best and freshest European produce.” Whether you are looking for artisanal breads or gourmet grocery items, Euro Delights can satisfy any cravings. Beyond delicious baked goods, the market offers a wide selection of grocery items such as premium teas, artisanal candies, international beverages and gourmet chips. The in-house deli also provides cured meats and specialty cheeses, giving customers the opportunity to create their own charcuterie boards.
Customers looking for French or Italian items won’t have much luck but the East European and Slavic options are endless. For those who are not interested in the savory side of Euro Delights, there is also a café
to sit with a perfectly crafted espresso and a warm treat. The atmosphere in the café is the perfect place to connect with friends, work on homework or relax after a long day.
So far some favorite items include raspberry and pistachio croissants, macarons, lavender lattes and matcha tea.
The café and market are separated in the building giving each space room for customers to enjoy these independent experiences. The market side is well lit and feels like any other store but the café side is aesthetically pleasing and has a warm cozy feel to it.
Euro Delights is a perfect alternative to corporate coffee companies that overcharge for arguably worse quality products. The café feels personal, sleek and clean with reasonable prices and the freshest brew in Knoxville. Hot coffee is also served in ceramic mugs, which is a breath of fresh air compared to other coffee shops in town.
Foodies and avid Instagram users will be pleased to know that the café is extremely photogenic and would be the perfect backdrop for any picture.
Furthermore, Euro Delights purchases coffee beans from a local supplier, Five and Hoek. Now customers can even buy bags of these beans to experience the same coffee flavors in their own kitchen.
After only a month of operation, customers
are already raving about their experiences at the Euro Delights.
Hannah Walker, a Knoxville local, loves the atmosphere and says it has already become one of her go to spots.
“The coffee here is fantastic, and the atmosphere is so inviting. It is nice to be able to try something new,” Walker said. “This has definitely become one of my favorite spots in Knoxville.”
Euro Delights is more than a business, it is a community for all Knoxville natives and lovers of European culture and cuisine. On the first day of operations, there was a crowd outside the door waiting for the grand opening and the community around the store has only grown since. Some Google reviewers even shared driving over an hour to see Euro Delights for themselves.
Euro Delights filled a hole in Knoxville’s market by being the first European-inspired store to feature not only groceries but also a deli and café. The store is extremely unique with countless European products that most customers have never seen before.
“I have wanted a place like this in Knoxville for years,” Melissa Williams, a Knoxville resident and first-time customer of Euro Delights, said. “The pastries are delicious and the selection of groceries is incredible.”
Whether you are part of the Slavic commu-
nity, a European food and culture enthusiast or a coffee lover, Euro Delights is the place for you. Stop by to browse their collections, have a coffee and pastry and immerse yourself in a little piece of European culture, right here in Knoxville.
The Worm Show: UT student shares love for worms in recent exhibit
ANNA LATTIN Contributor
Anna Carter, a student at The University of Tennessee, held a worm-themed art exhibit called “The Worm Show” described as a “Subterranean experience.” The exhibit was shown on Feb. 14 and Feb. 15 at Gallery 1010. While it may not be a typical way to spend Valentine’s Day, “The Worm Show” was quite popular and locals filled the gallery amused by the exhibit. Before the show, Carter had placed 100 posters around campus with the fake number “1-800-I LOVE-WORMS” attached as an advertisement. Along with the posters, she posted teasers of paintings and giant worm sculptures on her Instagram. At the entrance of the exhibition was a table where visitors were encouraged to draw their own worms. Displayed on the table was a vase of live worms alongside gummy worms for guests to enjoy.
The one sculpture of the exhibit — “What Do You Get When You Cut a Worm in Half?”— was an interactive piece where people were encouraged to sit or lie on two fabric giant worms to watch worm videos that were projected onto the ceiling above the exhibit. The exhibit featured oil paintings on different canvas mediums, including regu-
lar canvas, corduroy and fabric, making the paintings have unique textures. Aptly named, the painting titled “Wet Shag Rug” features worms painted on a fluffy texture fabric giving it the appearance of a wet shag rug.
The creation of the exhibit began with Carter painting worms for her art classes. Carter had worked with Gallery 1010 before and delved further into her study on worms after getting approved for an exhibit. The sculptures of the exhibit, each roughly around six to seven feet long, had a quick turn around with both sculptures being made over winter break.
The show was an exploration of worms, but more specifically how Carter feels about worms. A sheet explaining each art piece was handed out to guests at the show. On the back of the sheet, Carter examines her thoughts on worms in a written piece titled “Some Words on Worms.”
“Why is a single worm so charming and funny, but a massive of worms is grotesque and scary? This is the thread that I grabbed ahold of and started pulling,” Carter said.
When asked for further explanation, Carter also states that it’s not just the number of worms, but rather the size as well.
“The thought of holding just one massive worm seems so gross and disgusting, so I wanted to know what the difference is,”
Carter said.
The paintings themselves don’t feature just one worm, but rather a bunch of worms in mass or being held in a hand, which reflects Carter’s investigation of worms.
Piper Warren, a viewer at the show, shared what they thought about the pieces in the exhibit and which one was their favorite piece.
“I love the size of pieces, I love that they’re huge, I think that’s great for an exhibit,” Warren said. “I love that they went with oil as
their medium, I think it captures the wetness of worms.”
Warren’s favorite piece, “Worm Love,” embodies the holiday of love in a worm-inspired way through its use of hot pink.
The show was an unconventional art exhibit but one that brought joy to couples and singles alike this Valentine’s Day. “The Worm Show” is a reminder to look around at the little things and that art can be silly and fun.
Euro Delights, owned by Igor Cheban opened in Downtown Knoxville on Jan. 17. The baker is an Eastern European inspired bakery and coffee shop. Feb. 21, 2025. Kacie Burns / The Daily Beacon
The Worm Show, an exhibit by Anna Carter, was available to the public on Feb. 14 and Feb. 15 at Gallery 1010. Pictured is viewers viewing and interacting with Carter’s art. Anna Lattin / The Daily Beacon
Opinion: Is chivalry dead?
ANSLEY GRAVES Opinions Editor
Chivalry, dating all the way back to the 12th century, was primarily utilized by medieval knights to guide their conduct and act as a code of honor. Chivalry’s meaning stayed true throughout the later ages and influenced the system of values shared by elite societies.
Today, it appears the word doesn’t mean something all that different in annotation, as it can be classified as a set of behaviors that are courteous, brave and respectful. However, one could argue that chivalry means something entirely different for today’s generation and might not be as apparent anymore within society.
I am here to tell you that chivalry is alive and well, subjectively.
Valentine’s Day just passed, and while it was forgotten for a moment when I woke up that morning, it seemed that I was quickly reminded by the large majority of our community who did not. Walking in to get my usual dose of what is probably too much caffeine at Walgreens, I was dumbfounded at not just the one, but three lines at each register snaking around the store.
Why is it significant that Walgreens was extremely busy on Valentine’s Day?
On this particular day, these Walgreens shoppers all had something in common — they all had some sort of gift for their valentine in hand. Flowers, cards, stuffed bears and balloons were flying off the shelves, an act so little but meaning so much to whomever would later receive them.
Buying your significant other a present on the day of love or just spending oneon-one time together seems like the bare minimum, but in today’s age, it might have felt like a rarity for some. Many relationships in 2025 have been built with 21st century incentives, like social media or dating apps. This is not to harp on you if you found your soulmate via Tinder, no. It is to emphasize that maybe the easiness of finding your partner on an app or site might set the trajectory of how serious the effort in the relationship is displayed in the future.
While it’s obvious we aren’t medieval people practicing what they knew to be chivalry, we also aren’t in a device-free, 2000s rom-com meeting our so-called soulmates in the pouring rain with dramatic music playing. Effort in today’s age, where
Opinions editor Ansley Graves says, “Buying your significant other a present on the day of love or just spending one-on-one time together seems like the bare minimum, but in today’s age, it might have felt like a rarity for some.”
Ansley Graves / The Daily Beacon
things can seem as easy and accessible as a swipe or a like, is so incredibly important and much more than that. Nevertheless, going to Walgreens for your boyfriend or girlfriend is surely a start.
I think it is significant to note that it was not just the college-aged kids buying goodies for their loved ones. I saw a handful of variously aged adults and elderly being a part of this crowd participating in the day of love. This was something that I couldn’t help but smile at.
“I am not a marriage or relationship coach, but I know enough about people’s behavioral patterns to know that as they age, it gets harder to find the time or the energy to put into your partner or relationship. Work, money and kids can so easily get in the way of a relationship and make a couple oblivious to why they are even together to start with.”
ANSLEY GRAVES
There is a common idea that relationships should consist of two halves — 50% from each individual to match that uniting 100%.
This is not always realistic.
Sometimes you can’t always give your best self to your partner with personal or life factors in the way, at any age for that matter. Sometimes you can only give a certain amount, but showing up and supporting your partner no matter what percent you are at is key.
“You have to date each other again and again” is something that a very wise woman once told me when I asked how she still remains content and happy in her many years of marriage.
When pondering my generation’s chivalrous efforts, I am certain that if you care enough to date someone or hook up with them, you most certainly can care enough to acknowledge their meaning to you on Valentine’s Day.
Getting them something small (or not even spending money and reading our nine college date night ideas for a budgetfriendly act of love column) goes such a long way. (Brownie points for Will who got me flowers and cupcakes — a girl’s dream).
With Valentine’s just passing by, this holiday could have also acted as a wake-up
call or a chivalry test for some. Did your partner forget about Valentine’s Day? Did they not post you and show you off? Did they even wish you well for the day? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you might need to reevaluate your commitment decisions. This is also not only important to remember on Valentine’s Day, but in general.
Are they practicing the values of chivalry just like the great knights did so long ago? Does your partner compliment you, surprise you or just spend valuable time with you? If you can’t make sense of these questions, then once again, it might be time to do some serious thinking.
While chivalry appears not to be dead this Valentine’s Day, let’s not let it die out after just one special day. Keep showing up for your partner, keep flirting, keep opening the door or taking them on a date and see how far it’ll take you.
Ansley Graves is a junior at UT this year studying journalism. She can be reached at agrave24@vols.utk.edu.
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Columns
letters of The Daily Beacon are the views of the individual and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Beacon or the Beacon’s editorial staff.
Tennessee tennis falls in SEC opener to Mississippi State
RYAN HANNA Contributor
After a long fall season filled with roster turnover, a new face on the coaching staff and some early trouble during indoor play, the moment the Tennessee tennis team had been waiting for finally arrived. The Vols kicked off a grueling yet much anticipated SEC schedule on Saturday against No. 26 Mississippi State. No. 16 Tennessee suffered an upset at the hands of the Bulldogs, 4-3, at Goodfriend Tennis Center.
James Newton and Jan Kobierski suffered their first loss, 6-2, in doubles to start the evening match en route to Tennessee (9-3, 0-1 SEC) dropping another doubles point to start the match. Mississippi State’s Petar Jovanovic and Benito Sanchez Martinez defeated Alex Kotzen and Alejandro Moreno, 6-4, to seal the point for the Bulldogs.
For the Vols, the doubles loss represents a lingering issue, one that cost them a shot to go to ITA indoor nationals and
grabbed the point.
Tennessee’s lackluster doubles effort carried over into singles initially, where Mississippi State dominated the first set out of the gate. The Vols fought back, however, taking three critical second sets to briefly keep the team in the match.
undefeated on the year for singles at a perfect 9-0.
resurfaced Saturday to start conference play. Shunsuke Mitsui and Alan Jesudason had a 5-4 lead against the Bulldogs’ Niccolo Baroni and Mario Martinez Serrano, but couldn’t finish before Mississippi State
Baroni and Bryan Hernandez Cortes clinched the next two points for Mississippi State, besting Newton and Jesudason on courts six and four to put the Bulldogs on the brink up 3-0. Martinez Serrano clinched the win for Mississippi State with a 6-2, 5-7, 6-2. Kotzen came back to force his match into a third set against No. 65 ranked Sanchez Martinez in the tiebreaker and keep Tennessee’s hopes of a comeback match win alive. He went on to best the Bulldogs’ junior, 4-6, 7-6, 6-3. It marked his seventh singles win of the season, moving up to 7-2 on the year.
Mitsui overcame a 5-1 deficit to take the first set 7-6 (7-4) over No. 67 Jovanovic. He clinched the Vols’ first point in the second set, with a 6-2 victory. He remained
For all of Tennessee’s struggles, Goodfriend did not lack energy. The 377 Vol fans in attendance marks a record for the stadium and the fans brought energy all night that Lucas said helped fuel the team despite coming up short on the comeback effort.
For a team that has spent the fall and early spring building its cohesion and teamwork on the court, the Vols will continue to be tested as it endures one of the highest strength of schedules in the SEC.
The coaching staff has made sure the team understands how critical conference play is as the Vols look to make another deep run through the NCAA postseason this year, and Tennessee’s upset loss at home could prove to be a difference maker to whether the team makes the tournament or not.
The Vols will have a quick turnaround as they travel south to take on Georgia in Athens at 1 p.m. on Monday.
‘T-Credit’ roundup: Games to watch in Tennessee athletics during week of Feb. 26
TYLER EDMANDS
Contributor
It’s another busy week for Tennessee athletics as multiple teams head into the postseason. Basketball hosts Alabama on Saturday for the game of the week.
Here’s a look ahead.
Feb. 26: Softball vs. Radford
The Lady Vols start the week at home, hosting the Radford Highlanders.
Feb. 27: Track and field at SEC Indoor Championships
Tennessee will get a chance to compete at the SEC Indoor Championships, which will take place from Feb. 27 to Mar. 1 in College Station, Texas.
Feb. 27: Women’s basketball at Kentucky
The Lady Vols will head to Lexington to face the Wildcats for a top-15 matchup.
Feb. 28: Softball vs Delaware State and Indiana State
Tennessee continues its homestand with a doubleheader on Friday afternoon. The Lady Vols host the Hornets (3-2) and the Sycamores (3-10) for two easy games before SEC play begins next week.
Feb. 28: Women’s tennis at Ole Miss
The Lady Vols head to Oxford, Mississippi, to take on the Rebels.
Feb. 28: Baseball at Astros Foundation College Classic
The Vols head to Houston, Texas, to take part in the Astros Foundation College Classic.
Feb. 28: Men’s tennis at Oklahoma
The Vols hit the road for their first SEC road game of the year. This will be the first meeting between these two teams.
Mar. 1: Swim and dive vs Kentucky and Virginia Tech
Swim and dive will see its last regular season action in this meet as the team prepares for the NCAA Swim and Dive Championships in March.
Mar. 1: Softball vs. UT Martin and Tennessee Invitational
Tennessee rounds out its busy week with UT Martin. The Lady Vols will host the Tennessee Invitational directly after and will also play a game on Saturday afternoon.
Mar. 1: Soccer at North Carolina
The Lady Vols kick off their spring slate
in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, against the Tar Heels.
Mar. 1: Men’s basketball vs. Alabama
The Vols host Alabama as the regular season winds down. This is a crucial game for both teams and may have massive implications for seeding in the postseason
Mar. 2: Men’s golf at Cabo Collegiate
The Vols head to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico to take part in the Cabo Collegiate Tournament from March 2 to March 4.
Mar. 2: Women’s basketball vs. Georgia
The Lady Vols play their last regular season game at home, and it will be senior day.
Mar. 2: Men’s tennis at Arkansas
The Vols head to Fayetteville, Arkansas, for another SEC showdown.
Mar. 2: Women’s tennis at LSU
The Lady Vols finish their road trip in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for a top-10 matchup.
Mar. 4: Baseball vs. Radford
The Vols return home after their trip to Houston, Texas, to face the Highlanders.
Elza Tomase shouts after winning a point in her singles match against Kentucky at Hilary J Boone Tennis Center. Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025. Malachi Jackson / Contributor
Mar. 5: Baseball vs. Xavier Tennessee will host Xavier on Wednesday afternoon.
Mar. 5: Men’s basketball at Ole Miss
The Vols take to the road one last time, heading to Oxford, Mississippi, to face Ole Miss.
Alex Kotzen hits against Illinois at Goodfriend Indoor Tennis Center. Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025. Michael Gouveia / Contributor
Tennessee baseball still trying to ‘figure this thing out’ after second weekend
TREVOR MCGEE
Sports Editor
Seven games have passed and two weekends have been completed for Tennessee baseball. The No. 4 Vols have compiled five run-rule wins and escaped any danger it has faced at Lindsey Nelson Stadium through the early part of the season.
Still, there are questions to be answered for who takes the field each game.
“Hopefully it doesn’t sound like I’m too dumb, but we’re still trying to figure this thing out,” head coach Tony Vitello said. “I think we did this the first time after the opening day game is scrimmages are scrimmages, and game days can be a little bit different.”
Tennessee took all three games of the weekend series against Samford, facing adversity it did not see the first time around against Hofstra. By the weekend’s end, the Vols accumulated a combined score of 23-5.
Game One
Game one featured ace Liam Doyle delivering a career-high 14 strikeouts, followed by Tanner Franklin dealing another six in relief. The pitching staff dominated a day of frigid temperatures, while the offense pieced together eight hits and five runs.
Game Two
Game two threw out Marcus Phillips on the mound for his second start of the season, before Nate Snead finished it off. The two held Samford to just a pair of hits to combine with 14 strikeouts. Tennessee faced danger in a 3-2 deficit heading into the seventh-inning stretch, but freshman Levi Clark delivered a grand slam in the eighth to avoid the scare.
Game Three
Game three had a different approach on the mound. With a total of four arms used through two games, Vitello had the luxury of a nearly full staff to tool around with.
He chose lefty junior college transfer Brandon Arvidson to make his second start of the week, and it went south with the first batter of the game. Samford blasted a leadoff home run to put the Vols in an early deficit but soon bounced back to deliver two innings of two-hit baseball.
Four more pitchers saw action before the game went final in the seventh inning, but still, other arms did not see
action. Left-handed pitcher Andrew Behnke did not appear across the weekend and touted pitchers Dylan Loy and Tegan Kuhns have yet to make their season debut.
“I don’t know how you have an unhappy locker room if you got a multitude or too many guys that you trust and are consistent and can get it done for you. To me, if we end up with that type of group, everybody’s going to be smiling.”
TONY VITELLO Baseball Head Coach
Through seven games, Tennessee’s pitching has been dominant despite not having a clear mold of a weekend rotation. The Vols have allowed 12 total runs to cross the plate while owning 97 strikeouts compared to 18 walks. At the plate, the picture is not any clearer. Tennessee bats have been just as dominant. With the weather colder, the offense improved as the weekend continued on. The Vols used eight hits
on Friday and six hits on Saturday to power through for wins, before the bats busted out in the sun on Sunday for 12 hits in the run-rule.
“I think the problem they’ve presented at the end of the week, and what we now know — should probably have knew a little bit earlier — is there’s some depth there, and there’s some competition there,” Vitello said.
The depth was on full display as the lineup card looked to find consistency. Slight changes in the starters were made each day of the weekend, while plenty of other bats succeeded in bench roles.
Clark was of the most successful from the weekend’s play, blasting two pinchhit homers in back-to-back games. He now leads the team in home runs with three, despite maintaining 13 at-bats.
“I mean what I said when you want the players to decide what the lineup is,” Vitello said. “So he’s a guy who could easily come up to the office.”
Other guys like Jay Abernathy succeeded at the bottom of the order while stringing together two starts over the weekend while adding value to flip the order. Stone Lawless also worked his way into a Sunday start behind the plate in a catcher platoon, recording the first home run of his career.
“You’re kind of looking for somebody to rip the pen out of your hand and make them put you in the lineup every day,” Vitello said. “But at the same
time, we’ve only played so many games. There’s only so many reps for each guy, and we’re still trying to figure out some different combinations of things.”
Vitello will still be figuring things out when the Vols travel to Houston, Texas, next weekend for their first set of games away from home. It will be the toughest task yet with Rice, Oklahoma State and Arizona on deck in the Astros Foundation College Classic beginning on Feb 28.
Gavin Kilen (6) being greeted by Jay Abernathy (8) and Dean Curley (1) after bringing them all home in game against Samford in Lindsey Nelson Stadium. Sunday, Feb. 23, 2024. Bailey Beller / Contributor
Gavin Kilen (6) showing love to the fans after his home run in game against Samford in Lindsey Nelson Stadium. Sunday, Feb. 23, 2024. Bailey Beller / Contributor
Photo Gallery: Snow Day
1. Students throw snowballs off Ped Bridge on a snow day. Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025.
Cambree Gliessner / The Daily Beacon
2. Students create snow angels on a snow day. Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025.
Cambree Gliessner / The Daily Beacon
3. A mini snowman with Neyland Stadium in the background. Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025.
Cambree Gliessner / The Daily Beacon
4. Melrose Avenue, looking toward Haslam. Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025.
Vivian Tomas / Contributor
5. Smokey X with snowmen. Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025.
Daniel Hahofer / Contributor
6. TVC’s Caleb Colvin takes a break next to a snowman at 21st Mortgage Plaza. Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025.
Daniel Hahofer / Contributor
7. Pat Summitt Statue. Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025.
Ericksen Gomez-Villeda / The Daily Beacon
8. A student tackles a snowman on the TREC fields. Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. Jayden Randolph / The Daily Beacon
9. Students pose with a snowman they built on the TREC field. Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025.
Jayden Randolph / The Daily Beacon
10. Two students have a snowball fight on HSS Plaza. Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. Jayden Randolph / The Daily Beacon
