Hard Knox Pizza and Ebony & Ivory Brewing closed their Central Street locations in recent months, but a familiar brewery and pizza spot recently took over both leases.
Sonny's Brewing has moved into the building at 2300 N. Central St., expanding its pizza, wings and beer business into a new part of town. The name is a little different than the first location, Sonny's Original Southern Pub, but the recipes remain the same, owner Michael McClain told Knox News.
His first location is at 2613 Adair Drive in Fountain City, and seeing the customers' love for the brand made McClain realize he could grow the business. The only question was where.
McClain heard that Hard Knox Pizza was looking to consolidate their restaurant, leaving the Central Street
space open. It's the perfect place, he thought. He signed on to open Sonny's Pizza and Wings where Hard Knox once operated before Ebony & Ivory's space became a part of the deal.
Ebony & Ivory, Knoxville's only Black-owned brewery, closed earlier this year. McClain initially planned to work with co-owners Mitchell Russell and Chico Dupas to combine the breweries, but when Ebony & Ivory decided it was time to close its Central Street operation entirely, McClain was their first choice tenant.
McClain said it's all happening a little faster and on a grander scale than he first anticipated, but the expansion is exciting for his Sonny's concept.
"We just want it to be a little neighborhood spot," he said.
Sonny's is partnering with Peaceful Side Brewery in Maryville for its beer list and is continuing to experiment with the wings menu.
Both the pizza spot and taproom are in the same building, what was formerly Ebony & Ivory on one half and Hard Knox Pizza on the other, but they have different operating hours.
The Sonny's Brewing side is open noon-10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, noon-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and noon-8 p.m. Sunday. Sonny's Pizza and Wings is open 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon-8 p.m. Sunday.
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.
Support strong local journalism by subscribing at subscribe.knoxnews.com.
Get the insider's guide to restaurants and bars with Eat65
Are you the one in your group who stays on top of the hot new restaurants and bars? Or maybe you're just looking for an answer the next time someone asks, "Where should we get dinner?"
Knox News has you covered, from appetizer to drinks, with our free Eat65 newsletter. Sign up today to get reporter Joanna Hayes' weekly tasting menu from Knoxville's food scene, covering what's new and unique at buzzy restaurants
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Sonny's expands into former Hard Knox Pizza, Ebony & Ivory spaces
