The award winning and Knoxville favorite Italian Market and Grill, located in Franklin Square, closed its doors to the public last week after a struggling year.

“The first time I was informed about the close was last week when I went by and saw the doors were locked up, and the place was abandoned. It was a surprise to us,” said Dee Harrison, real estate manager for Franklin Development Corp.

Italian Market and Grill opened in 1992 by Emendorfer Restaurant Concepts out of Athens, Ga. It became a local favorite for Sunday brunch, voted the best in East Tennessee, and their wood-burning pizza ovens.

Owner Bill Emendorfer said, “It was one of the first casual dinning experiences, and we produced high quality service and food with no shorts cuts.”

In 2007 Donald “Blue” Cooper sold his restaurants in Stuart, Florida and bought the Italian Market and Grill from Emendorfer Restaurant Concepts.  He began changing the menu, taking short cuts in food quality, and making renovations to the overall culture of the restaurant.   

“After all the changes business began to quickly slow down, most of the regulars were being run off, and the servers on the floor were being mismanaged,” said Ben Wilder, Italian Market bar tender and server.

The Italian Market received a low health score, and Cooper closed it down on Tuesday.  “I felt sick to hear the news only three days before,” said Emendorfer. “We have really no responsibility to Italian Market anymore, but we want to try accommodating the loyal customers as much as we can.”

For the future location, Harrison says they want to find the best fit for Franklin Square and the Knoxville community.