4 hours Ago By ALLISON WINTERS [email protected]
KINGSPORT — Halfway through March and three months into 2025, where do I even begin? The snow seems to have at least stopped for now, we have entered into Daylight Savings Time and temperatures seem to be rising in the afternoon. Spring has always been one of my favorite seasons because it invokes the imagery of new beginnings and possibilities — a fresh start. It’s also the lead-up to the summer season, which is particularly a busy one in Kingsport.
As part of this column, I wanted to introduce a new segment called “Business Breakdown.” It’s where readers can submit their own inquiries on business happenings, and I will answer them either in “Minding Your Business” or a separate story entirely if it warrants a lengthier response. Have a business-related inquiry you’re itching to know about? Send me an email at awinters@sixriversmedia.
con and I will look into it. Ribbon cuttings, openings and anniversaries Galaxy Pizza & Arcade celebrated its grand opening in downtown Kingsport on Feb. 26.
The eatery is now located at 121 Shelby Street. The Kingsport Chamber hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for Sneaks & Geeks on March 6. The store is located at 217 Broad Street, which offers something for both video game and sneaker enthusiasts alike.
Arby’s located at 4532 West Stone Drive will host a grand opening celebration on March 15, with a ribbon cutting and re-opening at 10 a.m. There will be prizes, festivities and more during the event.
The restaurant underwent an extensive renovation in the past couple weeks, according to a recent release. The Blended Pedaler is still set to open its Kingsport location by “early spring,” according to a social media post shared by the business on Feb. 24.
It is scheduled to open at 1825 North Eastman Road. Boops & Beans Cat Cafe is hoping for a grand opening the last weekend of March, according to a social media post shared by business on March 7. This cafe is set to be in the former location of Blackheart Salon in downtown Kingsport, at 207 Broad Street.
Community happenings and events Bays Mountain Park & Planetarium is hosting public meetings to inform the community about potential projects funded by the Land and Water Conservation Fund grant. The first meeting was held Monday; the second meeting will be held on Friday (March 14) at 1 p.m.
in the Kingsport City Hall board room. Kingsport City Hall is located at 415 Broad Street. The Weber City Volunteer Fire Department is hosting a family-friendly Irish Festival from noon to 6 p.
m. on March 15 to introduce the community to its new venue space as well as fundraise for the fire hall relocation project. ETSU’s student newspaper, the East Tennessean, will host a pancake breakfast fundraiser from 8 a.
m. to 10 a.m.
on March 22 and at Aubrey’s Restaurant in Johnson City. The fundraiser is held annual to benefit the East Tennessean staff. Aubrey’s is located at 3029 Hamilton Place near Academy Sports.
For more information, email [email protected] . Final Food Truck Rally returns to downtown Kingsport from 5 p.
m. to 8 p.m.
on March 28. The rally is held in the parking lot at Cherokee and Cumberland Streets in Kingsport. There will also be mobile mini-golf available to play from Fizzy Fairway.
Chef’s Pizzeria will launch its new ice cream endeavor, “The Golden Cone” on March 31. By the end of the month, patrons will be able to purchase ice cream, sundaes, floats and pup cups on site at the Kingsport eatery. Chef’s is located at 254 W.
New Street. The Downtown Kingsport Association will host its next Shop & Hop event from 5 p.m.
to 8 p.m on April 3. Downtown businesses will stay open later and typically offer discounts or special opportunities during the Shop & Hop events.
New owners of the Hot Dog Hut Downtown are hosting a grand re-opening and ribbon cutting at 4:30 p.m. on April 3.
Crumbum and Grace Meadows Creamery are scheduled to be on site as guest vendors, according to the Facebook event. Hot Dog Hut is located 1025 E. Sullivan Street in Kingsport.
The Animal Shelter of Sullivan County is looking for vendors for its second annual spring community outreach event called “We Pawsitively Love Our Community.” The event will take place from 11 a.m.
to 3 p.m. on April 5 at the Old Blountville Middle School Track.
According to a post shared by the shelter, they are looking for a variety of vendors. For more information, email asosc.director@gmail.
com or [email protected] . Presented by the Downtown Kingsport Association, Loft Tours are back from 2 p.
m. to 5 p.m.
on April 12. This is an annual opportunity for attendees to get an exclusive look at seven privately-owned properties in downtown Kingsport. Tickets are required.
For more information, visit downtownkingsport.org . Fusion is hosting its second Taste of Small Business Kingsport event from 5 p.
m. to 8 p.m.
on April 28 at MeadowView Conference Resort & Convention Center. During the event, patrons who purchase a ticket can sample menu items from several local participating restaurants, with all of the proceeds going back to the small businesses. Tickets are available at participating restaurants.
For more information, visit Fusion’s Facebook page. BrewHaHa returns to Kingsport on May 2. The event will be from 6 p.
m. to 9 p.m.
at MeadowView Conference Resort & Convention Center, featuring a lineup of three national comedians. Attendees can enjoy the entertainment along with various pizza and craft beer offerings from several different restaurants and pizzerias. This is a 21 and up event; identification will be required at the door.
Kingsport Cultural Arts will host its second annual Kingsport ARTS Festival on May 3. The day will be filled with artist demonstrations, vendors, workshops and more. For more information, visit https://www.
artskingsport.org/events/kingsport-arts-festival/ . Racks by the Tracks will return for the 17th year on May 17.
The event features a full day of music, beverage tasting and BBQ. Kentucky Headhunters have been announced as the headlining performers. For more information, visit www.
racksbythetracks.com ..
