May 29th 2024.
Great news for the Knoxville community! After facing hardship during the pandemic, one of the city's beloved gems, Magnolia Cafe, has been restored. This historic house, which has been serving delicious food since 1999, is believed to be Knoxville's oldest Black-owned restaurant. However, like many Black-owned businesses in America, it struggled to stay afloat in the aftermath of the global pandemic. But thanks to the determination and support of community leaders, Magnolia Cafe is back and better than ever.
Representative Sam McKenzie and local business owner Frank Shanklin saw the importance of this restaurant to the community and took action. They approached the owners with a proposal not only to purchase the property, but also to reopen it under the same name. For Shanklin, this was more than just a business venture - he had been a regular customer at Magnolia Cafe and saw it as a gathering place where people could leave their worries at the door and just enjoy good food and company. When it closed due to COVID, he realized just how much it meant to the community.
Now, Magnolia Cafe is back in business, serving up all the fan favorites like pork chops, fish sandwiches, burgers, and mouth-watering sides. Regulars are lining up outside, eager to get their fix and catch up with friends. It's not just a restaurant, but a place for socializing and showing off dance moves late into the night.
For McKenzie, this restaurant holds a special place in his heart. He even took his high school photos at Magnolia Cafe when it was still a photo studio, and later a restaurant owned by a historic figure in Knoxville, Robert Kirk - the first Black professor at the University of Tennessee. Being a part of bringing this community back together through Magnolia Cafe has been deeply fulfilling for him.
But it's not just about the food and the company. Magnolia Cafe also serves a greater purpose, acting as an event space for various occasions, from birthday parties to anniversaries and even funeral repasts. And to celebrate the legacy of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), the new owners have started a tradition of dedicating a wall in the cafe to these institutions. As graduates of Fisk University and Knoxville College, McKenzie and Shanklin proudly hung their school's pennants on the wall, and now customers are following suit. The display includes flags from HBCUs like Florida A&M University and Howard University, and each time a new school makes the wall, a flag-raising ceremony is held during dinner service.
It's heartwarming to see how much this restaurant means to the community and how it continues to bring people together. Magnolia Cafe is more than just a business, it's a symbol of resilience, community, and unity. As we navigate through these challenging times, it's important to remember the power of coming together and supporting one another. And Magnolia Cafe is a shining example of just that.
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