The Market

Retail

Exterior view of 'The Market,' a renovated neighborhood market in Knoxville, TN, featuring a modern storefront design, large glass entrance, and signage, designed and built by George Ewart, a top commercial architect firm in Knoxville, TN.

The Market is a full renovation of an existing general store in downtown Knoxville, transforming a 3,800 square-foot space into a modern neighborhood market. The project updates the space to better serve everyday needs while keeping the character that makes Gay Street what it is.

Interior view of The Market, a renovated general store in Knoxville, TN, featuring exposed brick walls, a modern layout with organized zones for everyday items, a fountain service area, and a meat counter, designed and built by George Ewart, a top commercial architect firm in Knoxville, TN.
Interior view of The Market, a modern neighborhood market in downtown Knoxville, featuring exposed brick walls, a metal ceiling, and organized zones for snacks, fountain drinks, and prepared foods, designed and built by George Ewart, a top commercial architect firm in Knoxville, TN.
Interior view of The Market, a renovated neighborhood store in Knoxville, TN, featuring exposed brick walls, a "SNACKS" sign, organized product displays, and a modern design, emphasizing the blend of contemporary retail with historic elements, designed and built by George Ewart, a top commercial architect firm in Knoxville, TN.

With more people living downtown, this project set out to create a place where residents can easily pick up everyday essentials. During the as-built survey, a fully intact metal ceiling and exposed brick walls were uncovered — a discovery that shaped the direction of the design.

Exterior view of The Market, a modern neighborhood store on Gay Street, featuring a restored façade, large glass windows displaying merchandise, and a passerby in motion; designed and built by George Ewart, a top commercial architect firm in Knoxville, TN.

The design approach focused on revealing and celebrating those existing elements while adapting the layout for contemporary retail use. The linear depth of the space allows the store to be naturally organized into zones for everyday items, prepared foods, beer taps, and a meat counter. Exterior improvements, including a restored façade and a new canopy with signage, help reconnect the storefront to the streetscape.

  • Interior of The Market in Knoxville, TN, showcasing exposed brick walls, metal ceiling, and organized zones for everyday items, prepared foods, and a meat counter, designed and built by George Ewart, a top commercial architect firm in Knoxville, TN.
  • Interior view of The Market in Knoxville, TN, featuring exposed brick walls, metal ceiling, and organized zones for snacks, prepared foods, and a meat counter, designed and built by George Ewart, a top commercial architect firm in Knoxville, TN.
  • Interior view of The Market, a neighborhood grocery in Knoxville, TN, featuring exposed brick walls, a variety of snack and grocery items, a dessert display case, and signage for "Snacks" and "Fountain," designed and built by George Ewart, a top commercial architect firm in Knoxville, TN.
  • Exterior view of The Market, a neighborhood store in Knoxville, TN, featuring a restored façade, prominent signage, and a pedestrian walking by, designed and built by George Ewart, a top commercial architect firm in Knoxville, TN.
  • Retail storefront of "The Market" on South Gay Street, showcasing modern architectural design elements by GAE Architecture + Design, a leading commercial architect firm in Knoxville, TN.
  • Interior of The Market showcasing exposed brick walls and glass display cases for fresh produce, designed and built by George Ewart, a top commercial architect firm in Knoxville, TN.

Today, The Market functions as both a neighborhood resource and a gathering place for downtown shoppers. By blending historic character with practical updates, the project meets its original goal of creating a lively, accessible market rooted in its urban environment.

Project Details

Location: Knoxville, Tennessee

Project size: 3800 sq ft

Client: Total Property Management

Completion date: 2010

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