Step inside a 1900s-era vault transformed into downtown Knoxville’s tiniest speakeasy – Knoxville News Sentinel
A year ago, entrepreneur Josh Smith could barely get around downtown Knoxville without a GPS. Now he’s a downtown property owner and part-time resident.
He also created downtown’s tiniest speakeasy, located at 304 S. Gay St.
Inside the building, which Smith owns, guests can rent the exclusive Friedman’s Loft starting at $1,600 a night.
Renting the speakeasy, located in a back hallway and behind a secret door, is extra.
Repurposing a vault
Smith bought the building in 2020 and wanted to make use of the vault inside, a relic from the historic Friedman’s Jewelers store.
The speakeasy, which includes the vault and an exterior room, transports guests back to the early 1900s with some period-accurate décor and antiques.
The vault has been transformed into a bar and features a full set of Pappy Van Winkle’s Bourbon, one of the rarest bourbons on the market. The main room has a poker table and comfortable seating.
The space also includes modern touches like neon lights, a state-of-the-art speaker system and a new elevator that reaches every floor in the building.
While the speakeasy itself isn’t very big, those renting the space out for an event will have access to the entire Friedman’s Loft. Smith estimated the building could accommodate 100-120 guests for a party.
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Smith hosted a sneak peek party May 21 and toured about 200 guests through the loft and the speakeasy.
“When you’re working on (something), you don’t really realize how cool it is until someone else sees it,” Smith told Knox News. “To see some of the developers downtown come through and go ‘Oh my goodness, this is cool,’ felt pretty good.”
Renting the speakeasy, which Smith said he hasn’t set a price for, includes bartending and serving staff.
Loft available for rent
Smith originally planned to start renting the entire loft last year but held off as construction on the speakeasy and the lower level got going. It’s now available for rent on the Friedman’s Loft website as well as on Airbnb.
A stay in the loft, which sleeps 16, will cost you from $1,600-$3,000 a night. Smith and his team personally review each request to rent the luxury home or the speakeasy.
“I don’t believe in wasting, so I don’t want this space to sit empty,” Smith said. “I want people to enjoy it, but I don’t want to abuse it or wear this space out.”
Spread across multiple levels, the 10,000-square-foot residence has five bedrooms, a balcony overlooking Gay Street, two personal parking spaces, multiple kitchens, a spa room with personal saunas and massage tables, a pool table and a shuffleboard table.
The Friedman’s Jewelers shop sat empty for some time after Max Friedman retired, according to Knoxville Lost and Found. It changed hands several times until it was purchased for $1.13 million by Knoxville dentist Clarence “Buzz” Nabers in 2011.
Smith purchased the building for $2.8 million in September 2020. After selling Knoxville-based residential waterproofing and foundation services company Master Service Companies in 2019, Smith shifted his focus to create his prison reform nonprofit, 4th Purpose Foundation.
He’s purchased a number of properties in the last year and plans to construct a building next door at 308 S. Gay St.. He purchased that property for $950,000 in 2020.
Smith is also the main investor in Dogan-Gaither Flats, a forthcoming home for formerly incarcerated men returning to Knoxville. He’s committed more than $3.8 million to the project.
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News intern Jake Yoder can be reached at jake.yoder@knoxnews.com. Follow along with his work on Twitter @jakeywakeyy. Support our local news efforts by becoming a Knox News subscriber.