Downtown’s First Family of Bars (with a strong side of retail) has entered their latest venture with See Scruffy City, a Hat Bar and Souvenir Shop, at 27 Market Square. Notably, among their long list of downtown bars, including Tommy Trent’s, Scruffy City Hall, Preservation Pub, Bernadette’s Crystal Gardens, Alice in Appalachia, and Lunaverse Knoxville, the word “bar” is conspicuously absent. The new business, which isn’t a bar, however, does incorporate the word into its promotion.

Like so many downtown buildings hosting their businesses, the family purchased the space prior to opening See Scruffy City. The store will be operated by Paula West, who also operates Alice in Appalachia (both a bar and whimsical gift shop), and is the long-term owner-operator of Earth to Old City. I spoke to Paula to learn more about her plans for the new business.

Paula said, “There will be Knoxville and general downtown iconic souvenirs, iconic places like the Tennessee Theatre, the Sunsphere, Market Square, businesses. Obviously, the businesses will focus on ours. We get asked all the time for things like Preservation Pub T-shirts. The name of the shop and the shop itself kind of consolidates the theme.” For those of you who miss Kathrine Rouse’s jewelry from Fizz (which was at this location), you’ll be able to find some of that here, as well.

She said she’s most excited about the hat bar, which is a literal bar at which customers can select a hat and then trick it out with bands, feathers, charms, pins, playing cards, and other ornamentation. While there will be a range of hats from which to choose, cowboy hats are the current leader as that sartorial craze spreads across the country. “We’ll also have trucker hats, fedoras and gardening hats.” Of course, you’ll also find UT gear, gifts, and UT-themed attachments for the hats. “We have really cool UT glassware, and that includes shot glasses and wine glasses.” She said some of the merchandise will be their own, but with a nod to UT.