coffee and coffee shops – Out and About in Sevierville

Penny’s Cafe in Downtown Sevierville

September 29, 2022September 29, 2022outandaboutinseviervilleLeave a comment

There is a new place to find coffee, smoothies, breakfast, and lunch in downtown Sevierville. Penny’s Cafe offers all those things and more. In addition, local artists display their work in this spacious area. I went by this summer and noticed that the cafe is already quite popular. Here are some quick observations.

First, Penny’s Cafe is located across the street from the gazebo on Bruce Street—an excellent location. In the picture above, you can see the cafe is located to the right of the old post office building. Park in the parking lot across the street, on the street, or down the street near the courthouse and just walk a short distance for a really nice cappuccino.

We got a friendly greeting as we walked into Penny’s Cafe. The menu is located on the wall to the left.

This is a nice little area to wait for a friend if you are early. The view across the street of Sims Barbershop may fo a local coming or going after a nice cut.

Young people have discovered the nice coffee and more at Penny’s Cafe. This sofa is a comfortable place to catch up with friends and refresh.

The new espresso machine makes one of the best cappuccinos that I have had this year in the U.S.

I learned to love avocado toast on a trip to California so I was excited to see several variations on the menu. I ordered “Everything Avocado Toast” on rye bread, but you can order it on two other kinds of bread as well. It had the Everything Bagel seasoning and was quite substancial. I was not able to eat both pieces and was not hungry for hours.

Penny’s Cafe is spacious and visually attractive, displaying work from local artists on the walls and in display cases. You will surely find a gift or personal treasure there.

I found myself browsing the art and wondering what would look good on my walls.

If you need a gift, one can be found in this display case…

Or this …

There is so much art to see at Penny’s Cafe so it would be a good idea to plan extra time to do so.

In closing, Penny’s Cafe in downtown Sevierville brings coffee, food, and art to Bruce Street that has missing for a while. The cafe has already been embraced by locals and visitors alike. Drop by and enjoy a morning drink or meal to start the day. See you out and about in Sevierville.

Here are some screen shots of the coffee menu from the Penny’s Cafe Facebook page. Go to the Facebook page to see more. Here is the link.

https://www.facebook.com/pennyscafetn

Bon appetite!

Mapco: A New Place for Gas, Snacks, and Coffee in Sevierville

June 4, 2021June 4, 2021outandaboutinseviervilleLeave a comment

Weigels, Pilot, and Sheetz are my preferred gas stations, especially for coffee and drinks. That being said, I would not ordinarily write about a new gas station in town—unless it was special. I had heard some interesting things about the new Mapco station that just opened in front of Publix in Sevierville. This new gas station has some special amenities that make it worth a stop and now make it officially ‘my favorite gas/coffee stop’ in Sevierville.

First, the address is 730 Winfield Dunn Parkway in Sevierville.

Nice open floor plan and traffic routing within the store.

The coffee area is excellent. The prices are comparable to other places. I like the ‘select- and- grind beans- then brew’ type machines. Chilled creamer is nice. Chilled coffee is an option as well.

There is an extensive assortment of adult beverages that are chilled and ready to go. I found the prices comparable to local grocery store prices. You can cool off in the walk in cooler.

You can probably find almost any drink that you like in the coolers.

I was extremely impressed with the machine that creates drinks using robotics. It also cleans itself. Feeling thirsty now.

Grab-and-go snacks offer variety. There were many healthy options too—more than I usually see in other places.

I was very impressed with the dining area. Large windows afford good lighting.

Free Wi-Fi and a variety of chargers are available to customers.

It is very much like a coffee shop in Mapco.

Finally… time for the best thing at Mapco…

…a dog park in the back of the station. This is excellent for pet owners!

Make sure that you download the Mapco app because I got a discount on my first gas purchase. Use your phone number at the pump to access the one time discount.

All in all, Mapco is an excellent new business to open in Sevierville and I know that I will stop there frequently to get coffee and other sundries. It is on the right side of the road to serve visitors and locals alike as they enter town. When you get a chance, come visit Mapco and see for yourself. I’ll see you at the coffee machine! Sevi

Honeybee Coffee Company: Caffeine Oasis in Downtown Sevierville

February 21, 2021February 21, 2021outandaboutinsevierville1 Comment

A cold February morning proved to be the right time to visit a new little coffee place in downtown Sevierville. After dreaming about a coffee shop downtown for a long time, it was exciting to finally visit Honeybee Coffee Company on Main Street and Court Avenue. It took me a while to get there, but it was worth the wait.

Honeybee Coffee Company is located on the ground floor of the new Historic Central Hotel in downtown Sevierville. Customers can use several parking spots in front of the business. I used a second option: the public parking lot across the street on Court Avenue.

The coffee shop is open every day with good hours for those of us who need a caffeine fix.

I usually get a Latte, but opted for a Chai instead because I had a really good one in Asheville a couple of years ago and wanted to try one again. The Honeybee Coffee Co Chai was excellent! I will order it again.

The quiet background music is perfect for a coffee house, fostering relaxation and concentration during your visit.

The Court Avenue side of the business has large windows that afford a view of the courthouse. There was plenty of light despite the overcast day, good for reading, etc.

The coffee beans are roasted in Knoxville.

I am a fan of interiors with a Scandinavian vibe. It was very attractive and made me want to linger.

Honeybee Coffee Co uses Cruze Farm milk products in their brews, which is as wonderful as you can imagine. Decadent!

The most popular spot in Honeybee Coffee Co.

All too soon, it was time to go.

Honeybee Coffee Co is definitely an asset to downtown and the courthouse area. You will surely find me visiting the coffee shop frequently this spring and summer while out and about in Sevierville. Save me a spot near Dolly.

Gas Station Coffee Truck

May 10, 2019May 21, 2019outandaboutinsevierville8 Comments

It was like a birthday…like Christmas…like a dream come true. We had a coffee truck at work this morning! It was absolutely amazing too!

After a week of wonderful things, our PTO arranged for a coffee truck to come for a couple of hours this morning. This was a week never to be forgotten. I looked forward to the coffee truck for days!

This special coffee truck company is called Gas Station Coffee. It had fantastic hot and iced coffees. Unbelievably good!

Joy in a cup!

My friends waiting for their orders. We were all so happy for this treat and it showed on our faces.

Absolutely true!

This was Wendy’s Frozen White Chocolate Mocha. Oh my!

Starting the day in an amazing way! Wendy and Ursula ordered wonderful coffee concoctions!

I will order a White Chocolate Mocha next time!

Kayla’s frozen concoction was the Frozen Chocolate Horse. I heard it was a favorite!

Cory recommends the Iced White Chocolate Mocha. Divine!

Teresa was ready to take on the day with her order. They all were excellent!

I am going to post this picture again for another incredible fact—the owners designed and built this truck themselves. I could not help but touch and admire the beautiful touches on the vehicle. Not only do they create amazing coffees, but they built this food truck. Unbelievable!

Gas Station Food Truck mainly attends fairs and festivals so keep up with their whereabouts on their Facebook page. Here is a link:

https://www.facebook.com/alittlecoffeetn/

They can also be found on Instagram at A Little Coffee TN .

I like to discover and promote small businesses. This one really rocked our day!

Pastry Heaven at the Wildflour Bakehouse

January 1, 2019January 1, 2019outandaboutinseviervilleLeave a comment

During the holidays, I allow myself to have a couple of pastries so last week was the perfect time to visit the Wildflour Bakehouse on the Parkway. It is located almost across the street from the K-mart shopping center, behind McDonalds and Long John Silver’s restaurant. You can also access the back of the building from Court Avenue. Come along with us for a holiday lunch to the Wildflour Bakehouse.

First, you will notice that it is spacious and has a variety of seating areas.

I liked the vintage sectional sofa on the left side of the room, under the flat screen TV that plays the Food Network. It is clearly the right color!

There is also a room to the right for sipping coffee or relaxing. We loved the deep purple.

Next, you will notice the abundance of pastries in the case. The owner and her friend will tell you the specials of the day and how things are made, if you like. They are very friendly and will tell you how their friendship and working situation actually began in Knox County when they worked together at the 911 Center.

It can get a little busy during the lunch hour. David Verble works downtown and is a happy return customer.

Several of us ordered the chicken salad sandwich on cranberry bread. You also receive a cookie with your lunch. We really enjoyed the mini cookie trays which were used to serve our lunches. So cute!

That day, soup choices were tomato basil or chicken pot pie soup. Both were very good.

Someone said that their cinnamon bun eaten later at home was very, very good!

I actually returned to the Bakehouse with a friend a few days later for lunch. Here were the specials that day.

I ordered the avocado toast and it was wonderful.

A beautiful gold cake!

Wildflour Bakehouse was ready for New Year’s Eve customers with these cute sugar cookies. During lunch about 8 people were in line to order so it was a busy.

A special holiday cookie with peppermint—what a good idea !

They make everything at the Wildflour Bakehouse, even scones!

The shelves were freshly stocked with breads and other pastries for the New Year’s Eve and Day holidays.

The Bakehouse also has a private room that can be used for different events. Talk to them about that when you visit. If you order a cake from them then you may get a very good deal on using the room for the first hour.

We really enjoyed our lunch(es) at the Wildflour Bakehouse and will return again soon. I was glad that we were there during our holiday and didn’t have to rush through lunch. You will want to linger a little with friends, but maybe sit a little farther from the pastry booth if your willpower is weak. There are many tempting treats at the Wildflour Bakehouse and you will want to try them all!

See you out and about in Sevierville.

Crust and Crumb Opens Downtown!

December 26, 2018outandaboutinsevierville4 Comments

I got a chance to visit Crust and Crumb early Christmas Eve morning. This is a new place downtown and it is going to be a great addition to the businesses there. Located beside 20/20 Optical on Bruce Street, the Crust and Crumb is bringing New York style sandwiches, an Italian bakery, and gourmet coffee to downtown.

Crust and Crumb has a location in Gatlinburg and opened the Sevierville business last Wednesday. Only in business a few days, I think that they are off to a great start.

They make all their own pastries. I wanted one of each.

You may recognize Jackie Diaz because she sells bagels and other delights during the summers at the Sevierville Downtown Farmer’s Market. They most often sell out so I expect bagels to be an ‘in demand item’ at Crust and Crumb.

I arrived just after 7:00 a.m. and opening time for the Crust and Crumb so I got a quick glimpse of kitchen creations. Tony Diaz was icing a Red Velvet cake and Jackie Diaz was creating some Black Forest Brownies.

I can’t wait to try one of these some day!

I regretted not buying a Cannoli on my last trip to New York City. Now, we can get them in Sevierville! Unbelievable.

There is a beautiful espresso machine to make specialty coffees. My skim latte was superb!

Brittany is an excellent barista and can create your favorite caffeine delight.

In addition, there are some ‘grab and go’ cafe Americano coffees as well. They were good blends too. I know these things….

Tony Diaz with the finished Red Velvet cake, beautifully finished. I think that you can buy a cake or buy a slice.

Downtown workers and visitors can grab a coffee and a newspaper to-go at the Crust and Crumb.

Those looking for lunch can order New York style sandwiches piled high with Boar’s Head meat. Specialties will be corned beef, Ruebens, and the High Rise sandwich piled with one pound of roast beef on rye.

There is a nice assortment of beverages for breakfast and for lunch.

Tony Diaz said that after 4 months of work, the business is open and things are going well. He said, ” The community has been very welcoming and we appreciate it.” After things settle down, they plan to offer home made breads and possibly a delivery service downtown. Free Wi-Fi is also on the list.

The New York artwork on the walls adds to the charm and will transport you to the Empire State.

I have a feeling that the Crust and Crumb will become a popular addition to downtown Sevierville. Certainly, the food and coffees will provide a taste of New York that we don’t get a lot of in our town. This is an exciting addition to our breakfast and lunch scene and I can’t wait to return with friends. It adds another great place to be out and about in Sevierville.

Food Truck Fridays Are a Hit!

October 14, 2018October 14, 2018outandaboutinsevierville2 Comments

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The first ‘Food Truck Friday’ event in downtown Sevierville is a hit! Now, if we could add an evening from 6-8 pm so people who can’t leave their jobs for lunch could visit then it would be even more exciting! Due to fall break, I was able to go downtown to see this event and here is what I found.

Actually, coffee comes first. My first stop was Courthouse Donuts to get a skim Mocha Latte from the coffee cart by Refill Coffee. It is made to order right there and you got a free donut with your coffee. The vendor was very nice and well prepared to make about any coffee that you would like. He will visit several more times so check the Facebook page for Courthouse Donuts because that is how I found out about it. Mine was perfect!

Blogger needs!

Next, I followed the downtown workers and visitors to the gazebo area for lunch hour.

One concern I had was how to eat lunch from a food truck with nowhere to sit—but Sevierville Commons Association had already considered that. There was a nice, long table to use for lunch. I like how it promoted community and conversations among lunch goers. Well done!

Crepes are a specialty food and take a few minutes to make, but the final product can be sweet or savory perfection.

A Nutella and strawberry crepe. Foodie heaven.

I remember this vendor from the Bruce Street Brewfest and it was quite popular.

Lines began to build up after 11:30 with the local lunch crowd. It was a good sight to behold.

Knoxwurst offered some good high protein, Paleo diet choices who those trying to reduce their carbs. Leslie Strader let me take a picture of her order to get this pic.

By noon, the crowds were building and lines were 10-15 people long. This proves that people will enjoy food trucks and gathering for lunch downtown.

This vendor has shops in Morristown and Jefferson City. Follow up lunch with something sweet!

If you like frozen treats then this food truck will ‘hit the spot.’ They also offer samples.

Food trucks have been a foodie phenomenon for the past few years so it is exciting to see them downtown. The schedule for the rest of this month can be seen in the first photo in this blog story. Check the selections for the coming weeks. Many people work in places that won’t allow them enough time to attend Food Truck Fridays so I hope that an evening could be added in the future. There is certainly something for everyone.

Don’t be in a hurry because food trucks cook and prepare the meals fresh as you order them. Enjoy the sunshine, good weather, and friends. Also, try some things that may not be easily found in this area.

Fridays just got more interesting to dine out and about in Sevierville…

New Things at the Farmers Market: July 6, 2018

July 7, 2018outandaboutinseviervilleLeave a comment

There is a special energy on Fridays in downtown Sevierville. Go to the gazebo on Bruce Street and you will find our local farmers market buzzing with activity and commerce. I went this week and found two new vendors that offer something a little special. Follow along and see for yourself…

I noticed a lot of progress on a new business downtown called Graze Burgers. (I think that I got that name right.) One of the foreman said that they would make some good progress in another month. It is coming along nicely.

Although in a bit of a disarray now, this alley will soon become a seating area with tables and chairs for Graze Burgers. There will be a window to the bar that will assist with food service. I am looking forward to see this new business.

There was a lot of ‘hustle and bustle’ at the farmers market when I arrived around 11:00 a.m. I was glad to see so many customers there for the day.

It was good to see Doug Shanks ready to serve lunch to hungry shoppers. He retired from the Sevierville Police Force and has taken over this business.

If you elect Doug Shanks as Constable, then you know where you can find him on Fridays between 9:00-1:00.

I always enjoy seeing the U.T. Extension Office at the farmers market because they will have a nice sample and recipe to give away to anyone who wants to try it. They also have many tips for recipes, gardening, cooking, and more.

I tried this broccoli salad and it was fabulous! It was kept cold and refreshing. I liked the raisins and red onion in this particular recipe. Must make it soon!

Here is one of the new vendors from Snowbird Mountain Farm. I think that it is worthy of note because I bought something here within 5 minutes. Guess what it was?

This business is based in Hartford, Tennessee. Snowbird Mountain Farm (love the title!) offers several products, not the least of which is coffee. The vendor was very pleasant and friendly, happy to explain the roasting process and differences in blends.

I am a coffee ‘afficionado’ and a big fan of the Three Bears Coffee company that sells at the Knoxville Market Square farmers market. To see a coffee vendor at our Sevierville farmers market was quite a welcome sight. This is a niche that needs to be filled.

After smelling the aromas from each bag, I promptly bought this one and look forward to trying it in the morning.

I love this vendor as I have bought many dog sculptures from her to give as gifts. There are some new things here. Look…

Pomeranians!

I think that I am going to buy this for Larry Sorrell!

This was the other new vendor that was worthy of note. He makes and sells candied, glazed pecans, walnuts, and cashews. Walk up and you can try a sample.

I tried this one. He uses bourbon to make this delightful treat. It was really good! I only tried one.

I think that this could be a good hostess gift if you are going to see someone. I would prefer the one on the right, of course.

It was time for me to go so I went my usual route through this arcade, the hallway through Victoria Mall.

Pass through the light to Court Avenue and the parking lot on Main Street. It was nice to see some new vendors along with the good ones that we already have on Fridays at the farmers market. It makes it nice to get out and about in Sevierville on a summer morning.

See you there!

Your Coffee Break Just Got Better: A Visit to Smoky Mountain Espresso

February 8, 2018February 8, 2018outandaboutinseviervilleLeave a comment

Do you enjoy a fireplace with your morning java? A new coffee place has opened on the corner of Veterans Boulevard and Middle Creek Road that can give you that experience. I took a quick trip to check out Smoky Mountain Espresso this morning. Here is what I found…

The fireplace is very warm and cozy. You could wear a T-shirt in that spot and be very comfortable. My latte was wonderful.

Make note! The drive thru window is open at 6:30 a.m. during the week. The front door usually opens by 7:00 in the morning.

There will be a grand opening on Wednesday, February 28th from 6:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. They will celebrate with $1 lattes and mochas! Scroll their Facebook page to find

https://www.facebook.com/smespresso/

because they have a contest to give away free coffee for a year! ‘Like,’ ‘share,’ or ‘tag’ a friend to enter.

I found the location to be easy and accessible at 1259 Middle Creek Road. You can see the traffic light in the picture above. In addition, you can see the future location of Sweet Frog Premium Frozen Yogurt next door. The owners ( who own both businesses) hope to be open by Feb. 14th.

Walk in the front door and the bathrooms are immediately inside. The open foyer leads to the coffee shop on the left and the yogurt shop on the right.

This must be good!

I asked them which was the most requested coffee right now and they replied “the Smoky Mountain Mocha.” It can be served hot, cold, or over ice. Also, this month there is a special Chocolate Covered Strawberry coffee. Oh, my!

Smoky Mountain Espresso is beautifully decorated with a cool, mountain feel. Smoky Mountain Espresso offers coffee, tea, smoothies, and Nitro coffee. Nitro is a very cold brew with a frothy top. Must try one this summer.

Of course, this was the preferred spot for my skim latte.

There are plenty of chairs and views of the beautiful hills and woods.

Like Sweet Frog, this is a Christian owned company. I have always enjoyed the good vibes that you get there so this place is no exception. I enjoyed listening to music by Crowder, Chris Tomlin, and Switchfoot during my time there. The music is very soft so you will have no trouble having a conversation.

Here is a nice touch…the indoor fireplace is actually a ‘double fireplace’ because it is inside and outside. They will place more tables and chairs in this outdoor area and it will be a great place to enjoy a treat with friends. Or have a faculty meeting? I vote “yes!”

Smoky Mountain Espresso is located across the street from the Holston Conference United Methodist Connexion building, visible in the photo above.

Treats are available for those who want a snack or breakfast on the go.

This is the place to go for a gourmet cup of coffee because each one is ground fresh the moment that you order it. I couldn’t help but admire the huge grinders on the counter in front of me.

This will be quite an asset to Sevierville and I know a lot of people will enjoy a gourmet blend now, whether on the way to work, or on weekends. See more photos on my blog Facebook page for pictures: Out and About in Sevierville.com

I will visit the Smoky Mountain Espresso again soon. Save me a seat on the couch!

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