O’ where, o’ where will Town ‘Taste?’
In order to broaden participation, one of the most popular events each year in Farragut is newly branded – and it might be newly located.
Formerly known as Farragut Food & Wine Festival, this public sampling of the finest in food and drink from Town restaurants and distributors, held annually in early May, has been renamed Taste of Farragut.
The idea is to attract “all businesses” in Town, said Stephen Krempasky, executive director of Shop Farragut/Farragut Business Alliance during its monthly meeting Thursday morning, Sept. 20, in Town Hall boardroom.
By comparison, “I went to the Taste of Turkey Creek and it wasn’t just food and wine, there were many businesses,” said Candace Viox, SF chair and owner of Water Into Wine bistro & lounge.
About the location for 2019 Taste of Farragut, which is set for May 4, “The (SF) committee decided the No. 1 choice would be the old Kroger Parking lot,” Krempasky said about returning to the site where last May’s event was held.
However, the executive director said he was told by a property management company official, “They are not able to make a commitment at this time” concerning the parking lot.
Viox said JCPenney, along Parkside Drive in Turkey Creek, “has offered their parking lot; and that is in Farragut.”
But Town Alderman Louise Povlin said, “I’d really love to keep it in the heart of Farragut if we could possibly do that. It doesn’t benefit us to move it to Turkey Creek. That’s my concern.”
One member suggested, “How about the old Ingles parking lot?” Another member responded by saying it might be difficult to contact Ingles corporate management.
“It would be great if they would get back with us,” Viox said.
Member Herc Ligdis said a SF committee member mentioned Village Green shopping center parking lot as a possibility.
However, saying a certain section of that parking lot might be off limits, Ligdis added, “if we have to exclude that parking and set up all the (Taste of Farragut) tents and still have enough parking, there is some concern. Is it a large enough space to accommodate what we need to do there?”
Members discussed access to additional parking at the Town’s new Community Center — former home of Faith Lutheran Church — 239 Jamestowne Blvd. behind the shopping center.
Krempasky mentioned the possibility of using the eastern parking area in West End Center “in front of Goodwill” and its adjacent shopping center businesses along West End Avenue.
However, with West End Avenue being the primary entrance/exit to Farragut Middle School and Farragut Intermediate School, and the eastern exit/entrance to Farragut High School, “May 4 is the worst time in the school year … with all that traffic,” he added.
No decision was made.
