History
History of the Space
Long before it became a hub for restaurants, shops, and events, Kern’s Bakery was a cornerstone of Knoxville life. For decades, the smell of fresh bread poured from its ovens, feeding families and fueling traditions.
Though the ovens eventually cooled, the heartbeat of Kern’s never stopped. Its walls, stories, and spirit remained — waiting to be rediscovered. Today, those same walls inspire new stories and new generations.
1836 — A New Beginning
Born in Germany, Peter Kern arrived in America in 1852. After years of moving south, he finally settled in Georgia by 1857.
1861–1863 — War & Capture
Kern takes up arms with the 12th Georgia Infantry, is wounded in Virginia, and later detained in Knoxville by Union forces — a twist of fate that ties him to the city.
1865 — A Bakery is Born
Choosing to remain in Knoxville, Kern opens a bakery with fellow immigrant William Heidel. Within a few years, it becomes his own, finding a home on Market Square.
1875 — A Sweet Empire Rises
Kern builds a three-story confectionery on Market Square, complete with an ice cream parlor and meeting hall. His shop becomes the South’s largest candy factory and one of Knoxville’s first to serve Coca-Cola — a place of wonder that even introduced Knoxville to its first Santa Claus.
1890 — A Civic Legacy
Kern steps into public life, serving as Knoxville’s mayor and alderman. He champions holiday traditions new to Tennessee, shaping the city’s culture and cementing his role as a beloved community leader until his passing in 1907.
1893 — A City Celebrates
On his own birthday, Peter Kern gave Knoxville another reason to celebrate — hosting the city’s very first Halloween party, a tradition that would live on long after.
1925 — A New Generation
After Kern’s death, the confectionery closed, but his bakery endured. In 1925, three prominent Knoxvillians purchased the business from the Kern family, carrying it forward on Market Square for another chapter of its story.
1928 — A New Name
When Greer and Brown purchased Kuhlman’s share of the bakery, the business took on a new name: Brown-Greer & Company, Inc.
1930 — Expanding the Vision
At the end of 1930, the company bought land along the river near the Henley Street Bridge — a move that set the stage for an even bigger chapter in Kern’s story.
1931 — A Landmark is Born
The new Kern’s Bakery building opened its doors on Chapman Highway in 1931. It quickly became both a Knoxville landmark and a thriving regional bakery, woven into the daily lives of the community.
1932 — Bread for the Masses
When Kern’s moved into its new Chapman Highway bakery in 1932, production doubled. The plant baked up to 75,000 loaves of bread a day — feeding families across East Tennessee and cementing Kern’s as a regional staple.
1953 — A Grand Opening
Kern’s Bakery celebrated the grand opening of its new Chapman Highway plant in May 1953 with an open house that drew families from across the region. Guests toured one of the most modern bakeries in the country, sampled fresh bread, and carried home souvenirs. Neighbors recalled the irresistible aroma of bread baking that would drift through the streets — a memory forever tied to life in South Knoxville.
1954 — That Fascinating Carousel
In 1954, Kern’s introduced what would become a Knoxville childhood legend: the Kern’s carousel. Offering free rides outside the bakery and at community events, the carousel quickly became a beloved fixture of local life.
1960 — A Joyful Ride
By the 1960s, “that fascinating Kern’s carousel” was in full swing. Families lined up for free rides, and children’s laughter filled the air — proof that Kern’s was more than bread, it was part of growing up in Knoxville.
1978 — A Knoxville Icon
By the late 1970s, Kern’s Bakery had grown into one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks. The red-brick building on Chapman Highway stood as a symbol of Knoxville’s industrious spirit and love of good bread.
2012 — The Final Loaf
After decades of nourishing families across East Tennessee, Kern’s ovens baked their last loaf of bread in 2012. The building fell quiet, but its place in Knoxville’s memory never faded.
2015 — A New Vision Announced
Developers unveiled plans to transform the long-quiet Kern’s Bakery into a vibrant 16-acre mixed-use community. The goal: breathe new life into the landmark while honoring its past.
2017–2019 — Preserving & Building
In 2017, the historic Kern’s building was added to the National Register of Historic Places, securing its place in Knoxville’s story. By 2019, redevelopment was underway — part of one of the first U.S. Treasury Opportunity Zone projects in the nation. New apartments rose beside the old bakery, while plans for a food hall and gathering space promised Kern’s would once again bring people together.
2020 — First Lease Signed
The vision for Kern’s Food Hall began to take shape when Flourish Flowers became the first business to sign on, planting roots in the historic space.
2021 — Phase I Complete
Phase I of the redevelopment opened with Flagship Kern’s — a modern apartment community that brought new life to the site and set the stage for what was to come.
2022 — Building Momentum
The Four Stones Group began the next phase of redevelopment, focusing on the historic bakery itself. Plans for a food hall, rooftop bar, offices, and entertainment space moved from vision to reality, marking the countdown to Kern’s grand reopening.
2023 — A Culinary Line-Up
By 2023, leasing was nearly complete. A diverse mix of food and drink concepts prepared Kern’s to once again be a gathering place for South Knoxville.
April 2024 — A New Era Begins
Nearly a century after its ovens first fired, Kern’s officially reopened as Kern’s Food Hall — a place to sip, eat, shop, and connect with friends, neighbors, and visitors.
Where the Legacy Meets the Present
Today, the same walls that once baked bread now spark fresh ideas and experiences. Kern’s is more than a renovation — it’s a revival of spirit, story, and space. What began as a family bakery is now a landmark destination for food, culture, and community — proof that Kern's legacy isn't just preserved; it's alive.
The Story Continues
Be part of the next chapter in Kern’s history.
