One restaurant started it all. More than 25 years later, Chad Kennedy’s first concept is coming home to Knoxville.
In 1999, at just 21 years old, Chad opened the original Puckers Sports Grill in Gatlinburg. It became the beginning of Kennedy Concepts and the foundation of a family business he would spend the next 25 years building.
Puckers was rooted in so many of the things Chad loved most: great food, genuine hospitality, a packed restaurant on game day and, of course, cheering on the Vols.
The concept also carried his determination through every chapter. When the original Gatlinburg restaurant was destroyed by fire in 2022, Chad spent two years rebuilding it. Giving up was never in his nature, and neither was being afraid to change direction when the moment called for it.
Following Chad’s passing, his daughter Hannah stepped into the role of President of Kennedy Concepts and the deeply personal responsibility of carrying his vision forward.
“My father’s business instinct was incredible,” Hannah shared. “He wasn’t afraid to change and pivot when needed, and that’s exactly what the market was saying to do. We are so excited to bring our legacy concept to Knoxville, Tennessee. Puckers truly represents the past, present and future of our family business.”
On August 26, Mimosas will reopen as Puckers Sports Grill Knoxville, just across the river from Neyland Stadium.
This new location will be an elevated evolution of the original Puckers, combining the energy of a true sports grill with chef-driven food, thoughtful cocktails and the kind of game-day atmosphere Knoxville deserves. Mimosas Brunch favorites will still have a place on the menu, and the Mimosas concept is expected to return in the future.
Bringing Chad’s very first concept to the city he called home, so close to the Vols he loved, feels like more than a restaurant opening. It is a full-circle moment for his family, the Kennedy Concepts team and everyone who has been part of this story.
The past, present and future of Puckers come together August 26, 2026. 🧡
