Altar'd State to open new downtown location, expand shopping options. October 27, 2026 Altar'd State stands at West Town Mall on Oct. 24. Knoxville-based retailer Altar'd State is set to open a new location in downtown Knoxville's Kress Building at 419 S. Gay St. The planned store has University of Tennessee students excited about the possibility of more accessible shopping options and clothing that fits their personal style. ASR Kress LLC, a company registered to Altar'd State CEO Aaron Walters, purchased the building for $6 million, with the sale finalized Sept. 17. The building previously housed the cafe Frothy Monkey, which closed in 2025. For UT students, the planned location would mean more than another store opening downtown. Students who shop often in the area said that it would bring more clothing retailers within walking distance of campus, reducing the need to travel elsewhere to shop. Milana Bagirov, a sophomore studying pre-law, frequently shops downtown at stores like Urban Outfitters and Brandy Melville but said overall, the options are limited. "It's nice to see more retail options so I don't have to go down Kingston Pike, 30 minutes away through traffic all the time," Bagirov said. Isla Burns, a freshman studying political science, has similar excitement, particularly because of the store's new accessibility. "I'm excited because it'll be walkable, compared to West Town Mall," Burns said. Beyond its convenience, students said Altar'd State's clothing style is part of what makes the store so appealing. "I like the variety of the clothes," Burns said. "There's not a lot of places where you can get workout sets and formal dresses. They have almost everything." Annabelle Ellis, junior marketing major, said Altar'd State's style fits perfectly with the fashion trends she sees on UT's campus. She is an avid visitor in downtown Knoxville and said the store would give her a new place to shop. "I like their clothes. I like their style. I feel like they're always on trend," Ellis said. For some students, the planned opening also brought attention to what they see as a lack of retail options downtown that cater specifically to students' preferences. Bagirov said she would like to see more stores offering everyday clothing rather than merchandise or souvenir shops. She noticed that Market Square specifically has a lot of shops that remind her of airport and tourist attractions. "Market Square has the new Brandy Melville they opened last year, and the Urban (Outfitters). But other than that, there isn't much over there," Bagirov said. Burns shared similar concerns about the downtown shops being tailored towards Tennessee fans and Knoxville visitors. "I think a lot of the boutiques have mostly orange stuff. It's very Tennessee," Burns said. "Not really places students would go to shop and get clothes they would actually wear." Sloane Phillips, a freshman studying English, said she believes downtown could benefit from more commercial retailers to attract more student shoppers. "I don't think our downtown is known for being super local," Phillips said. "It's Knoxville. They should put more commercial stuff if they want people to go down there." Students' reactions suggest that UT shoppers are looking for a greater variety downtown. For them, Altar'd State offers that variety they've been looking for.

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