We visited Knoxville’s new Mast General Store today and let Tommy stock up on candy. The store is a yuppy blend of Orvis and Cracker Barrel. They have a t-shirt that I really want (hint, hint Doug). Doug drooled over the hiking gear and the hats. It really is a nice store. Take your parents there for the nostalgia. Take the children for the candy by the pound.
I visited one of these in Asheville a year or two ago.
Sure, it’s nice, but it’s a one-trick pony, really. Like you said, it’s basically a Cracker Barrel on steroids. I don’t think Knoxville has enough of a tourism base to support a hokey little shop like this.