May 15, 2025
From Retrofit Magazine, May 13, 2025.
Generations of locals fondly remember the scent of fresh-baked bread wafting from the facility, where Kern’s iconic yellow-packaged loaves were baked daily. Founded by Peter Kern in the 1860s, the bakery relocated to South Knoxville in 1931 where it operated as a regional powerhouse for more than 60 years. As time passed, the factory shut down, and the once-bustling halls fell silent. The massive sign atop the building, shaped like a loaf of the iconic bread, slowly faded, and the structure itself began to deteriorate. In 2013, preservationists recognized the site’s historical significance, and it was added to the Knox Heritage “Fragile 15” list of endangered historic properties. Four years later, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places, but its fate remained uncertain.
That uncertainty changed when a group of visionary developers saw the potential to preserve the factory’s character while giving it new life as a community hub. The result is Kern’s Food Hall, a dynamic, mixed-use destination where visitors can shop, dine and gather. Located across the river from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, the food hall now serves the growing student population that inhabits the south bank and meets the increasing demand for dining and entertainment options in South Knoxville.
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