KINGSPORT 鈥 Southern Craft 黑料视频 in Kingsport is now open.
The official opening is Wednesday, owner Rafael Zabala said in an email statement Tuesday afternoon 鈥 with a soft opening Tuesday evening.
It will be located at 242 E Main St., the former spot of Main Street Pizza Company.
This will be the fourth Southern Craft location near the Tri-Cities. Previous existing locations of the restaurant include 黑料视频 and Greeneville, as well as Bristol, Virginia.
鈥淲e鈥檙e excited to welcome Southern Craft to Main Street as part of the continued growth and development in Downtown Kingsport,鈥 said Robin Cleary, Downtown Kingsport Association鈥檚 executive director. 鈥淭heir commitment to great food, local flavor and revitalization creates a destination experience. The Downtown Kingsport Association is proud to have them as part of our downtown family.鈥
This announcement of the project in May came months after the re-opening of Main Street, as part of the Main Street Rebuild project in downtown Kingsport. The city of Kingsport started the project in November 2022, pouring $20 million into the development with the goal of enhancing and beautifying one of the main entrances into downtown.
鈥淭he wait is over 鈥 Southern Craft Kingsport is now open and ready to welcome you! From our house-smoked barbecue to our craft cocktails and warm Southern hospitality, we can鈥檛 wait to share this new chapter with you,鈥 鈥淭hank you to everyone who has supported us along the way 鈥 we鈥檙e so excited to finally open our doors and serve this community.鈥
Background
The Kingsport Economic Development Board approved up to $125,000 in a redevelopment grant related to Southern Craft鈥檚 new home in April. RMM Hospitality, a local group known for owning other business endeavors like Stir Fry Cafe and The Social in Kingsport, made the grant request to revitalize other adjacent properties on Main Street.
As previously reported, the grant would go towards revitalization of the former Pappy鈥檚 Custom T鈥檚 and Main Street Pizza Company properties, as well as The Social 鈥 all of which RMM Hospitality owns or leases.
鈥淩epresentative鈥檚 here today to make up a gap in funding to redevelop all three of these buildings,鈥 Steven Bower, Kingsport economic development director, said at the KEDB meeting. 鈥淭heir investment right now is well over a million dollars, and from what I hear that number keeps going up.鈥
Bower said at the meeting RMM Hospitality plans to incorporate retail, a restaurant and lofts at the site.
About the properties
RMM Hospitality got its start in the Tri-Cities in 2004, . Some of the group鈥檚 other properties outside of Kingsport include Label, Juan Siao, 620 State and Chateau Selah.
The Social, a downtown event venue in Kingsport owned by the group, opened its doors in 2015. Stir Fry Cafe opened in Kingsport in 2008.
In terms of the Main Street property redevelopment, both Pappy鈥檚 Custom T鈥檚 and Main Street Pizza Company shuttered their doors in the past three years. RMM purchased the Pappy鈥檚 property in June 2022 for $271,700, according to a deed recorded in the Sullivan County Register of Deeds.
For more information about Southern Craft, visit .
