01/04/2026
Amenities are what you build.
tldr; Math is on Mindi's mind...generally happens around 3am, especially on a Sunday morning, after a week of business. The ups, the downs and the all arounds.
As most restaurants will tell you, the holidays are hit and miss, traveling, family visiting, places to go and see, we get it. Prices are up and disposalble funds are down, you may have just spent a life savings on holiday events, gifts and food. You are not alone and we are working on some specials for January to help ease the pain of it all and to make sure we are all successful, I'm going to share some digits with you.
Let me know if you have questions and/or solutions to keep us all well fed, in the black and with a healthy mental and financial start to 2026.
A trip to Des Moines to shop/eat/entertain.
Gas $10 round trip - just getting there, more like $25 to stay and drive around
Time 1.5 hours (how much is your time worth an hour) $40 est.
Rough spending $150 (if you're lucky) on shopping/eating/entertaining - est.
That's roughly $200+, that is a low guesstimate.
Factor in the mindset as well. Can you drive safely at night? Do you curb your entertaining ;), it's a good idea. Your entertainment time 2 hours, 3 hours? Wear & tear and added miles to your vehicle?
I'd say it's more than $150 however depends on the situation. What if you imbibe too much, a hotel, or mulitple meals, or any type of unexpected event...it would most likely cost twice.
Total time spent 5 to 6 hour or overnight. That's fun however not sustainable.
Now to stay in Knoxville or the surrounding area.
Gas depends on vehicle so nominal
Time 5 to 10 minutes
Rough spending? Also depends however let's go there:
One Eleven average meal with a drink, great service and amibiance $30 to $40 (doesn't include tipping)
Movie for 2 $10 with snacks $25 The Grand Theater
A beverage at one our our nightly hotspots, Atlantic & Pacific Pub $30
Total spend $75
Maybe a morning jaunt on Saturday, Brunch at Plant Bingo @ One Eleven, a quick shop Raiment EID or Candi's Flowers
Or coffee at Spire Drink Co or a cupcake at Kay's Kupcakes
Total spend maybe $40 and that's being quite generous.
Kicker!
Every dollar you spend in Knoxville, 60 to 70% stays in our Knoxville.
Employees are paid, your aunt, uncle, mom, dad, brother, sister, son, daughter, infastructure will be renewed and updated, owned and operated businesses see improvements to better service you and growth happens with that retention.
Now, if you choose to spend your earned money in Des Moines, guess how much stays in your community? Zero, Zilch, Nada. Guess who gets to grow and build better? Des Moines. Guess whose employees are paid? Theirs.
Now, I'm not saying don't go to Des Moines...it's my home town and my friends and family own businesses there and I love going home to visit. Scott and I, 90% of the time, spend our $$ in Knoxville, if possible, we pay Knoxville people wages, 15 of them, and we know one day with this mindsent more will be available. AND! You won't hear, "Knoxville doesn't have anything good." That is closed mindset thinking and keeps everyone in a negative cycle, opportunity is knocking everywhere, be a part of it!
So get out there and enjoy yourself or just take a walk. It's a beautiful place, you just have to look around once in a while. ;) If you get the reference, I'll buy you a beverage.
All of us at The 111
