Kay's Ice Cream

Location: 6200 Chapman Highway, Knoxville, Tennessee

Jim Brackett, a part owner of Kay's Ice Cream, said Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2017 that the last location, on Chapman Highway, will close Dec. 31. 2017. Started in 1941, and built 158 outlets. September was “terrible,” so in October he told the property owner that Kay’s would close down, he said.  The restaurant equipment — including 50-year-old ice cream freezers, still working — will remain, in case a future tenant wants to try again. Several years ago Food City bought the rights to sell “Kay’s Classic” ice cream and frozen yogurt, but the ice cream is actually made by Mayfield  and is not the same as Kay’s actually serves.