HALLS
Gus’s Good Times Deli celebrates 45 years of feeding UT students
Al Lesar, Shopper News
When Peyton Manning walks in the door, you can count on him having a roast beef sandwich with smoked cheddar cheese on dark bread with no mayonnaise or a cheeseburger with smoked cheddar, hold the mayo.
That’s why Aaron Hale loves what he does. And he’s loved it since 1993.
Hale and his friend (now brother-in-law) Les McManus graduated from Halls High School in 1992. McManus got a job at a Knoxville fitness center owned by the son of Gus Captain.
“I got to shoot ball for free,” Hale said of the reason he hung out at the fitness center.
Captain owned Gus’s Good Times Deli (815 Melrose Place) near the University of Tennessee at Knoxville campus. At the time, Gus was in need of a delivery driver. Hale, who had nothing going on, gave it a shot.
“I liked being around the restaurant, but I didn’t like delivery,” Hale said. “I had to get good at making food.”
Late nights are interesting
Hale shortly found his way to the grill – and he loved it. Long hours. Late nights. Drunk college students. He loved it all.
“I loved the pressure,” Hale said. “It was like being on stage. If somebody didn’t like something, they can tell you right then.”
Has anyone ever told him that?
“No,” he said. “I got good at it.”
It was 2001 when Captain decided he was ready to retire. It was a foregone conclusion that Hale would take over. Gus wanted his deli to remain stable.
It’s that interaction with his customers that Hale thrives on. Thanks to their hours (9 a.m.-2 a.m. Monday-Wednesday, 9 a.m.-3 a.m. Thursday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-12:01 a.m. Sunday), Gus’s Good Times Deli is the late-night go-to place for anyone who’s hungry.
He said Manning was a regular while going to school and, even though he no longer lives in Knoxville, he makes sure to stop by whenever he’s in town.
Over the years, he’s served entertainers like Prince and Garth Brooks. When ESPN’s College GameDay was in town for a football game, TV personalities Kirk Herbstreit and Pat McAfee came by. He was also interviewed for a segment on the show.
Steamed sandwiches are special
The transition from do-everything worker to do-more-than-everything owner was relatively seamless. This year, Gus’s Good Times Deli celebrates its 45th anniversary. Actually, Hale has owned it longer than Gus had.
“If you’re the owner, you’re gonna have to be there,” Hale said. “I’m there over 70 hours a week.
“There probably have been 5,000 things change since I took over. You just have to adapt.”
Hale said he’s seeing second-generation students as customers.
“I’ll see someone I knew when they were a student,” he said. “Now, they’re bringing in their kid, who’s just starting at UT. I’ll tell them what kind of a student their parent was.”
One thing that hasn’t changed are the steamed deli sandwiches that are specialty items.
“Steamed deli sandwiches are a Knoxville thing,” Hale said. “You used a special bread that doesn’t get soggy. I never realized nobody else does it.”
Current students might be more apt to go with the fried selections, but the old-timers swear by the steamed deli sandwiches.
When the Old College Inn closed, Hale added cheese bings (similar to fried cheese curds) to the menu. They were a tradition at the Old College Inn, so he kept it alive.
“There’s such a rush late at night when there’s a line of people out the door and down the street all wearing orange,” Hale said. “It’s like riding on top of a wave. I love it.”
FARRAGUT
Bark Place grooming stresses calm, care and natural products
Nancy Anderson, Shopper News
At Bark Place grooming in Farragut (11410 Kingston Pike, suite 200) it’s not just about a fresh cut, it’s about earning a dog’s trust, one calm, careful grooming at a time.
Owned by Sherma Elliott, a former RN, and Butch Elliott, a former restaurateur, the shop that opened in January 2008 has provided 18 years of service longevity and client loyalty.
Services include haircuts and breed-specific styling, bathing and blow drying, nail trimming, ear cleaning and add-ons such as teeth cleaning and paw treatments.
What makes Bark Place different is the Elliotts’ emphasis on natural, non-toxic, organic grooming products, which is appealing for pets with sensitive skin.
While Bark Place has a clientele of about 25 to 35 dogs per day, Sherma and her team of five talented groomers focus on individualized attention rather than volume. Her focus is to have a well-groomed, happy, calm pet. Dogs are not crated all day. Dogs who are not crate friendly are placed on canine hitches, allowing the dog freedom to see what’s around them.
“I feel like having dogs running around the shop is not safe, because you have to do a lot of behavior analysis. We keep them in open crates. If they are not crate friendly then we have canine hitches where they are secured but not in a crate. They’re not fearful,” said Sherma.
The Elliotts offer a behavior-tolerant approach, which is a big difference compared to chain groomers. At Bark Place the environment is that of pet lovers, not just a service business.
“We do a meet and greet with each pet on their first visit. The dog is happy and will be familiar with us when it comes for the first groom. We talk extensively with the owner to know and meet if not exceed their expectations,” said Sherma.
Such is their “pet lover” approach, they are willing to accept difficult dogs and dogs that have been banned from other grooming facilities. They’ll even groom cats.
Sherma said her biggest challenge is finding and retaining groomers with great talent and patience.
She said she’s appreciative of the Farragut community.
“Farragut has been very welcoming and gracious to us. There’s a lot of competition, but we’re supported by local veterinarians who refer clients to us and are very loyal to us. We’re very thankful.
With an eye toward growth, Sherma said they are considering a concierge service where they will pick up and return dogs after grooming.
“We have an aging population, and having spent nine years of my nursing career with terminally ill patients, I know they need services. It’s different than a mobile groomer. We just want to keep the community happy as we have for 18 years.”
Shop hours are 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. The shop is closed Sunday and Monday.
Info: Phone 865-777-2275.
POWELL
Church member uses spiritual gift to start ministry for the deaf
Al Lesar, Shopper News
Alex Breaux came to East Tennessee on a whim.
He has stayed on a mission.
The 27-year-old from Shelbyville, Tennessee, remembers growing up with an infatuation for professional wrestling. Breaux called the wrestlers on television of those days larger-than-life superheroes. When three buddies offered him the chance to get a glimpse of that world at the Jacobs-Prichard Wrestling Academy, he jumped at the chance.
“No family, no responsibility; why not?” Breaux said of the fall 2022, adventure.
The experiment lasted about three months. He and two of his friends called it quits. One, who goes by the name “Bruiser Bob,” has stuck around and is doing shows.
“I had a fear of my first match,” Breaux said. “I was so afraid of getting out there in front of a crowd.”
Once that dream had died, Breaux needed to get on with his life. He found a two-week assignment as a shipping coordinator for DeRoyal Industries in Powell more than three years ago that has turned out to be permanent.
‘Swallow that thing called pride’
Breaux’s struggle with life got serious in the fall of 2024. He wasn’t happy about what was happening. A co-worker coaxed him into attending services at Black Oak Heights Baptist Church in Powell.
“I remember the sermon Pastor Todd gave that day,” Breaux said. “I was in danger of not having a place to live. I came to the conclusion I had done this to myself.
“Pastor Todd talked about, ‘When you lay your head down on the pillow at night, there’s a calm voice in your head. Listen to that voice.’
“I prayed about it. That’s a voice I needed to hear. It gave me chills. I was ready to swallow that thing called pride and let myself be saved.”
Without a solid religious background as a youngster, Breaux was ready to create a foundation. He became a regular at Sunday services and, about a year into his journey, heard a calling for his specific mission.
Using God’s gifts
Growing up with two brothers and a father who were deaf, sign language came as second nature to him.
“I never really remember learning it,” Breaux said. “It was something I knew all my life.”
Breaux, his mother and his sister were all able to hear. Ironically, his grandmother on his mother’s side was deaf.
Last August, Breaux took to heart Stinnett’s sermon about how people should take the spiritual gifts God has given them and use them to help the community.
That was when Breaux jump-started a ministry at Black Oak Heights that would help bring the Gospel to people with hearing issues. He does sign language interpretation at the 10:30 a.m. Sunday service, and is hoping to start a Sunday school program.
“I’m trying to build a connection with deaf people in the community,” he said. “I’m trying to get the word out to as many people as possible on (social media).
“I’d like a group that can grow together,” Breaux said. “At Black Oak Heights, we don’t judge. We’re going to welcome you and do our best to share the Word.”
For more information, email: breaux3498@gmail.com or blackoakheights@gmail.com.
KARNS
Poppin’ Balloons owner spreads joy in her mother’s memory
Nancy Anderson, Shopper News
Ashleigh Stroup has a way of turning ordinary moments into something worth celebrating. As the owner of Poppin’ Balloons in Hardin Valley, she’s built a reputation not just for eye-catching designs, but for transforming balloons into full-scale works of art with arches, sculptures and installations that elevate birthdays, school events and community gatherings alike.
Stroup started her balloon business in 2023 in honor of her mother, who passed away just a year before.
“She was the creative one in the family – I was not. As it turns out, I inherited some of her creativity. She left this world leaving it up to me to carry on the tradition of creativity.”
Stroup’s first foray into balloon sculpture did not go well. She bought an arch kit with a strip with holes that hold balloons. She said it was terrible. It was flimsy and didn’t hold the balloons.
“I wanted to do something special for my daughter’s 13th birthday. So I bought the strip. It was the worst experience. I tell you I had no idea what I was doing, so I began researching and learning.
“Clearly this is what God put in front of me. I researched and I learned. I wanted to perfect it in honor of my mother, plus I just love a challenge,” said Stroup.
Soon her new hobby became a business. Now Stroup is in high demand despite there being fierce competition in the balloon sculpture world.
“Balloons are a great thing to have in your life, especially if you are sad about something. Balloons are celebrating something positive and happy. That’s something I want to spread to others – happiness.
“I’m not the only one who feels this way. There are dozens of balloon artists just in Hardin Valley, but I believe it’s such a big market there’s room for us all.”
Stroup said the whole experience is a “God thing.” Her business allows her to make connections and friends all over Knoxville.
“In the early days, I gave a bunch of things away just to get my foot in the door. Now I’m to the point where I can take the gigs I want. I don’t have to take everything that comes my way,” she said.
Stroup said her biggest challenge is saying “no” and finding balance. She’s a full-time dental hygienist, mother and now business owner.
She plans to expand her business to include instruction and DIY kits and helping others find their success in building balloon sculptures large or small.
“I would love to instruct others. I wish every business, not just balloons, would get into the mentality of supporting others. It makes it such a nicer world than being competitors. There’s enough business for everyone.
“I believe that if I am supposed to get a job, I’ll get it. If not, then I believe it’s meant for someone who needs it more than I do.
“I do hope this continues. I love spreading joy and happiness to others.”
Info: Find Poppin’ Balloons Knoxville on Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.
