A rooftop bar that took downtown Knoxville nightlife to new heights in 2019 has a $2.5 million plan to expand its space with scenic views on the 14th floor.
Radius Rooftop Lounge, atop the Embassy Suites by Hilton on Gay Street, announced a 1,500-square-foot addition Aug. 19 designed to host private parties and other events. It will be called The Reserve at Radius Rooftop Lounge, according to a news release from Knoxville-based Kana Hotel Group, and it will have space to accommodate 75 people.
Construction is already underway, and a New Year's Even opening is scheduled for Dec. 31. This is the same hotel Knox News reported is expanding its second-story balcony from Gay Street to the Union Avenue side of the former bank building, which Kana Hotel
Group owner Alpesh Patel reopened to the public as an Embassy Suites in November 2019.
The expanded balcony is being made possible with $100,000 in financial support from the nonprofit Downtown Knoxville Alliance and will be open to everyone, not just hotel guests or customers of the KoPita Authentic Mediterranean restaurant on the second floor.
Similarly, the Radius Rooftop Lounge is open to the public from 4-11 p.m. Mondays through Wednesdays, with expanded hours until midnight on Thursday. The bar opens stays open even later on Fridays and Saturdays with 1 p.m. to 1 a.m. hours.
“The Reserve represents a significant investment in Embassy Suites Knoxville Downtown and in the continued growth of the guest experience we offer in the heart of the city,” Patel said in the news release.
The Embassy Suites has a pool at its rooftop lounge and retail space on the ground floor where K Brew and Ham'N Goodys operate. KoPita, the second-floor restaurant, recently opened a Mediterranean bakery on the Union Avenue side.
Embassy Suites helped downtown grow, and it's not stopping
Embassy Suites has been a game changer for Knoxville's growing tourism economy. Annual draws such as the Big Ears Festival and Tennessee football games bring thousands of visitors to the city, while major events including the recent Savannah Bananas games and Bassmaster Classic continue to expand Knoxville's reach.
Knoxville added 1,178 hotel rooms across 13 new properties between 2015 and 2024, according to Visit Knoxville data, and the average nightly stay during that period jumped from $84.84 to $126.15. For a similar comparison, the county collected $14.68 million in hotel taxes for fiscal year 2024, compared to the $6.6 million it collected in fiscal year 2015.
But growth in the hotel market is not just about the number of rooms, Visit Knoxville President Kim Bumpas previously told Knox News. A variety of property types and amenities are also important, as not every visitor craves the same hospitality experience.
For travelers looking for luxury, a space like The Reserve could play a factor in deciding where to stay. These travelers tend to have more disposable income, and the Embassy Suites' location in the heart of downtown at 507 S. Gay St. can push tourists to nearby businesses.
Connectivity is especially important in a downtown environment, Downtown Knoxville Alliance Executive Director Michele Hummel told Knox News. A driving force for the balcony project, she said, is to "bring more vibrancy to Union Avenue" and better connect Market Square and Gay Street.
These areas are among the most popular downtown destinations and are home to a variety of hotel types, from boutique properties like The Oliver Hotel and Hotel Cleo to upscale national brands like Embassy Suites and the Hyatt Place at 530 S. Gay St., which also has a rooftop bar.
The Hyatt Place's Five Thirty Lounge followed the opposite trajectory as the Embassy Suites, starting out with a plan to accommodate private parties with an open-air deck before the demand for public rooftop space led developer Rick Dover to open the space for everyone. The rooftop then expanded in 2020 to add indoor seating and more space to socialize outside on a new deck overlooking Gay Street.
Five Thirty Lounge is on the 10th floor, while Radius Rooftop Lounge sits four floors higher atop the Embassy Suites. Smaller but more eclectic rooftop spaces can be found around the corner on Market Square, where Bernadette's Crystal Gardens, Preservation Pub and Scruffy City Hall overlook the pedestrian plaza.
What else we know about The Reserve at Radius Rooftop Lounge
The Reserve at Radius Rooftop Lounge, according to the news release, is being designed "with a sophisticated, contemporary aesthetic featuring rich finishes, dramatic lighting and thoughtfully arranged seating."
"The new space will complement the atmosphere of Radius while offering guests and event hosts a more exclusive setting within the hotel’s rooftop experience," the release said.
Additional details about The Reserve, including hours of operation, will be announced closer to completion. In the meantime, The Reserve is taking reservations for private parties and events in 2027. To inquire about a reservation, send an email to tysxd_ds@hilton.com.
Ryan Wilusz is the business growth and development editor for Knox News. Email: ryan.wilusz@knoxnews.com; Cell: 865-317-5138; Instagram: @knoxscruff.
Support strong local journalism by subscribing at subscribe.knoxnews.com
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: $2.5M rooftop bar project adding space for parties in downtown Knoxville
