One of Knoxville's thriving beer brands opens its 'world headquarters' in West Knoxville
Abridged Beer Company founder Jesse Bowers wasn't kidding about the name of the brand's new Cedar Bluff location.
"We're calling it internally and kind of as a cheeky joke, … the Abridged Beer Company: World Headquarters, because it just seems so much bigger and grander than anything we do currently," Bowers told Knox News.
The new West Knoxville location, in the former home of K Town Tavern, brings all the facets of the Abridged business under one larger roof. It opened Nov. 25.
"One of my big fears or worries is that it being such a big place and a more mainstream-looking restaurant, that we would lose some of our spirit and our heart and soul," Bowers said. "But I'm happy to say we're there every day all day and there's just no way around it not feeling like us."
Bringing more burgers and beers to West Knoxville
Started in 2017 as a brew pub in Bearden, Abridged already has added a food truck and The Oak Room, a barrel-aged beer bar in Happy Holler.
"None of those operations change whatsoever," he said. "They're all continuing."
The new location at 320 N. Peters Road combines beer, food and cocktails.
The menu features dishes familiar to fans, along with exclusive items only found at the new location.
New $10-$11 appetizers include deviled eggs and fried buffalo chicken thighs, along with a charcuterie board similar to what's available at The Oak Room. The three salads for $12 represent each Abridged location: the charred Caesar salad, the Oak Room salad and the HQ salad.
Every Abridged sandwich and burger will be available for $12-$14. Bowers has added new entrees around $20 only available at this location, including a shrimp and grits dish with andouille sausage and spicy tomato sauce.
Still in the works, Bowers said he eventually wants to add wood-fired pizza.
You can watch your meal being prepared from the circular beer bar, which looks into the kitchen through a glass wall. The bar features about 20 beers on tap from Abridged and local breweries, including Xul Beer Co. and Albright Grove.
A second bar, the Oak Room Lounge, serves cocktails only. The open-air lounge sits a few feet above the rest of the space, and the drink menu includes cider, hard kombucha, wine and build-your-own cocktails.
The full cocktail and beer menu can be ordered from anywhere in the restaurant, which seats 185 people inside and an additional 65 on the patio.
Future plans for Abridged Beer
Although the restaurant opened right after Thanksgiving, Bowers hopes to open the brewery portion in 2023.
The increased production capacity will increase distribution of Abridged beer, including to retail stores and outside of Knoxville.
Bowers said he'd like to eventually expand the food truck business, either with more trucks or a small brick and mortar location, comparing it to "like a Five Guys or MOOYAH type concept, and incorporating our beer somehow."
At the moment, he's focused on getting the new restaurant settled and "trying to make it home." He said he was able to hire staff and train them at Abridged's other locations, so "culture wise, we're not starting from scratch."
Abridged Beer Company: World Headquarters will have the same hours as the Bearden location. It'll be open 4-10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday. On Friday and Saturday, it will be open for lunch starting at noon and will close at 10 p.m.
Keenan Thomas reports for the Knox News business growth and development coverage team. You can reach him by email at [email protected]. Support strong local journalism and unlock premium perks at knoxnew.com/subscribe.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Abridged Beer Company opens restaurant and brewery in West Knoxville
