Belltown, a 305-acre community between Karns and Powell, is one step closer to letting visitors enjoy beer, wine and cocktails while strolling between restaurants and shops.
The Knox County Commission approved a pedestrian beverage zone for the mixed-use neighborhood Aug. 31, clearing the way for the first open container district outside Knoxville city limits.
The city of Knoxville launched a temporary Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area for Market Square in July, and Belltown developer Josh Sanderson quickly sought county approval for a similar concept. But questions from commissioners delayed his proposal by a month.
Sanderson worked with commissioners to modify parts of the program before it returned for approval, including adding wristbands
to identify patrons of legal drinking age and streamlining the application process for participating businesses.
"We made changes," Sanderson said, "and there were a lot of good ideas."
More businesses coming to Belltown could use beverage zone
Abridged Burger Company and Soccer Taco are the only Belltown businesses that serve alcohol, but three more restaurants eligible for the "Pedestrian Beverage Zone" are expected to open by the end of 2026: The Shrimp Dock, Universal Pizza and Water Into Wine Bistro & Lounge.
Customers of participating businesses will be able to purchase to-go alcohol in cans or clear cups labeled "PBZ" and carry them throughout the zone between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. daily. Once branded cups and signs are delivered and installed, Belltown will operate the zone as a yearlong pilot program and share quarterly reports with the county.
Sanderson told Knox News he hopes to launch the program by the end of September.
Belltown expects to add 561 single-family homes on the north side of West Emory Road, along with 213 townhomes and 324 apartments on the south side of the street. Construction began in fall 2023.
Smithbilt Homes, Belltown's developer, widened West Emory Road and added a traffic light at the entrance to help address traffic concerns tied to the project's anticipated 4,000 residents, an issue Sanderson said nearby residents have raised since plans were first unveiled in 2022.
With a beverage zone in place, Abridged owner Jesse Bowers previously told Knox News, Belltown residents and visitors would be able to "explore the entire development, which ultimately supports all of the businesses within it."
"We feel the new ordinance will allow the district to function more as it was designed − as a connected, walkable destination where guests can move between businesses and enjoy the shared common spaces," he said.
Knox News reporter Joanna Hayes covers restaurants and retail for the business growth and development team. Email: joanna.hayes@knoxnews.com; Instagram: @knoxeat65. Sign up for Joanna's Eat65 email newsletter to get the latest drink and dining news, as well as restaurant recommendations, at knoxnews.com/newsletters.
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: To-go alcohol coming to Knoxville neighborhood with more restaurants on tap
