Annette Morejon, after working in Italy for more than a decade as a tour guide, is bringing her love for the country and its cuisine to Bearden with a new restaurant and market named Il Mercato.
The business − located at 5440 Homberg Drive near Lululemon − will be like nothing Knoxville has ever seen before, offering a way for customers to eat, purchase and learn about Italian foods, Morejon and co-owner Eddy Perez told Knox News.
"There's going to be wine, cocktails, lots of things," Morejon said. "The focus is really to create a little piece of Italy in Knoxville."
Translating to "the market" in Italian, Il Mercato will span 3,000 square feet with 70 seats spread across its indoor and outdoor dining areas. When the business opens in late 2026
or early 2027, it will feature a pasta station, pizza station, cannoli bar, gelato cart and a deli area serving paninis.
Morejon started visiting Italy more than 25 years ago and returns several times per year. Perez shares that same fascination with the country.
"It's freaking amazing if you ask me," Perez said. "That's why we keep going back. That's why we're doing this."
Morejon's experience as a tour guide led her to create an Italian culture club in Knoxville and said her new business feels like the natural next step in her journey.
"I've always been heavily involved with the Italian community, with Italian places," she said. "I felt like it was something that was a little bit lacking here."
The shelves at Il Mercato will be stocked with products sourced directly from Italy, including breads, pastas, cheeses, meats and cookies. The market will partner with other local businesses, such as Tesoro in the Old City, to highlight products from around Knoxville.
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: 'Little piece of Italy' coming to Bearden with new restaurant and market
