Kennedy Concepts, Inc.

08/28/2026

Earlier this week, we opened the doors to Puckers Sports Grill in Knoxville, TN.

To most people, it may look like a new sign, a new space, or a new menu. To our family, it is something so much bigger.

Puckers is a name that has carried history with it for a long time. It carries memories of where the story first began, the people who believed in it from the start, and a dream Chad Kennedy had of bringing that same kind of gathering place to Knoxville.

This week, that dream found its home.

Every opening has a story behind it. This one has years of memories, a family legacy, and a lot of heart behind every detail. It is a reminder that the people we love continue to shape the things we build long after they are gone.

The doors are open, and the next chapter has officially begun. We’ll take it from here, Chad. 🤍

Welcome to Puckers Sports Grill, Knoxville.

08/26/2026

08/21/2026

You can’t do Gatlinburg without barbecue 🍖

After a full day exploring the Smokies, pull up a chair and refuel with our Family Feast platter made with slow-smoked meats and mouth-watering southern sides. Find us right on the Parkway and stay awhile.

Myron Mixon BBQ - Gatlinburg | Gatlinburg Restaurant | Gatlinburg, TN

08/20/2026

08/14/2026

By day, it’s locally roasted coffee brewed and poured with intention. ☕

By night, it transforms into an Espresso Martini. It’s bold, it’s sweet, and it’s just the right kind of pick-me-up.

We hope you stop by for a sip.
Cafe 4| Market Square, Knoxville

08/10/2026

Gay Street, low light, a table you don’t want to leave.🎶

Live music every Friday and Saturday, 10pm-1am. Come for dinner. Stay for the night.

The Kennedy | Knoxville, TN

08/06/2026

One restaurant started it all. More than 25 years later, Chad Kennedy’s first concept is coming home to Knoxville.

In 1999, at just 21 years old, Chad opened the original Puckers Sports Grill in Gatlinburg. It became the beginning of Kennedy Concepts and the foundation of a family business he would spend the next 25 years building.

Puckers was rooted in so many of the things Chad loved most: great food, genuine hospitality, a packed restaurant on game day and, of course, cheering on the Vols.

The concept also carried his determination through every chapter. When the original Gatlinburg restaurant was destroyed by fire in 2022, Chad spent two years rebuilding it. Giving up was never in his nature, and neither was being afraid to change direction when the moment called for it.

Following Chad’s passing, his daughter Hannah stepped into the role of President of Kennedy Concepts and the deeply personal responsibility of carrying his vision forward.

“My father’s business instinct was incredible,” Hannah shared. “He wasn’t afraid to change and pivot when needed, and that’s exactly what the market was saying to do. We are so excited to bring our legacy concept to Knoxville, Tennessee. Puckers truly represents the past, present and future of our family business.”

On August 26, Mimosas will reopen as Puckers Sports Grill Knoxville, just across the river from Neyland Stadium.

This new location will be an elevated evolution of the original Puckers, combining the energy of a true sports grill with chef-driven food, thoughtful cocktails and the kind of game-day atmosphere Knoxville deserves. Mimosas Brunch favorites will still have a place on the menu, and the Mimosas concept is expected to return in the future.

Bringing Chad’s very first concept to the city he called home, so close to the Vols he loved, feels like more than a restaurant opening. It is a full-circle moment for his family, the Kennedy Concepts team and everyone who has been part of this story.

The past, present and future of Puckers come together August 26, 2026. 🧡