For years, The Cherokee Mills Building has been a Knoxville Landmark. While the property has seen several different uses throughout its history, the property has long served as the anchor of Sutherland Avenue and a wayfaring landmark for city residents. Today, the building continues that fine tradition with a full overhaul, positioning it as one of Knoxville’s premier business destinations.

The Textile Years (1917-1956)

The Cherokee Mills Building was constructed in 1917 by the Cherokee Mills company at the corner of Concord Street and Shawmut Avenue. At the time the building was completed, it was still a block off of Sutherland Avenue, as there were several residences and a street (Shawmut Avenue) where the existing parking lot is now. The building operated as a textile mill from 1917-1956, and due to demand the building was doubled in size in 1933. A walk through the building reveals a very distinct line in this addition, as the 1917 side of the building has gently sloping roofs while the 1933 addition features the more distinctive “sawtooth” design that was typical of Textile Mills of that time. During this period, the building housed hundreds of workers and produced textiles for multiple uses. Many Knoxvillians can still trace ancestors who worked for Cherokee Mills at its peak. The textile industry slowed in the US in the 1950’s and the Cherokee Mills company moved out of the building in 1956.

The Tom Black/Atlantic Mills Years (1956-1981)

In 1956 Tom Black, of the Tom’s Potato Chips Company purchased Cherokee Mills for the site of his potato chip production empire. Tom’s Potato Chips operated in the western part of the building (the original 1933 addition) for years producing potato chips for distribution throughout the southeast. Around the same time, Mr. Black signed a lease with Atlantic Mills to open a department store in the eastern part of the building (the 1917 building). Many Knoxvillian’s fondly recall shopping at Atlantic Mills, which was considered the predecessor to current big-box stores such as Kmart and Walmart.

The Cherokee Place Years (1983-2007)

In 1983, enterprising developers Walter Wise and John Fiser purchased Cherokee Place and converted it into an office building for larger users. For more than 20 years, the office building was a major player for large office/open floor plan users, and was occupied in majority by TVA, Travelers Insurance and Cendant for the duration of that time. Cherokee Place has become known as a landmark property in Knoxville, largely due to the investment made by Mr. Wise and Mr. Fiser. As these larger tenants relocated out of Knoxville or moved to new facilities in the early 00’s, the owners of Cherokee Place sought a new owner to continue the legacy of the important structure.

The Rebirth of Cherokee Mills (2007 – PRESENT)

Dominion Development Group purchased Cherokee Mills in 2007 and began the process of repositioning the building into a class A office facility with a fully amenitized campus including fitness facility, day care, café, and coffee shop. By first quarter 2009, the developer expects all of the rehab of the property to be complete and the building to be re-tenanted with a diverse mix of professional offices, non-profits, and doctors groups, creating a healthy office environment with positive tenant interaction.