Skybox at the Sunsphere
Photography: Cody Galbraith
An exclusive look at the new bar everyone is talking about!
Towering 266 feet above Knoxville is a structure that has remained elusive to many for decades. During the 1982 World’s Fair the Sunsphere was the symbol of people and cultures from all over the world coming together in Knoxville. Today, while most of us know what it is, few of us have actually been into the structure itself. Well, all that will change this month with the opening of the Sunsphere Skybox. The concept is simple: a cool place to unwind after work, featuring signature drinks from all over the world. Owner and visionary Bob Sukenik has taken the hip look of bars in the big city and combined it with a fantastic view of the Knoxville skyline, and what you get is an experience unlike any other in East Tennessee.
This will be an ideal place for us locals to unwind, but also a unique destination to bring visitors. “We want to be able to provide visitors...the best experiences, and we think that we can make their visit much more fulfulling by having the opportunity to visit the Skybox.”
“How did this idea come about you may ask?” In January of 2006 Bob Sukenik took sole ownership of Southern Graces catering. With the addition of a new sales staff, the client list began to build. Also that year, Southern Graces began plans with the city of Knoxville to lease the fifth and sixth levels of the Sunsphere. The sixth level serves as an event floor, hosting everything from wedding receptions to business parties. Southern Graces now boasts a top notch culinary team and group of event planners that not only do events at the Sunsphere but also cater to clients on location. Plus, since 2006, Southern Graces business has doubled each year. With the event floor running smoothly, construction could finally begin on the Skybox earlier this year.
What’s the secret of the team at Southern Graces success? “Very, very hard work, and a continual commitment to improvement - we are driven to be the best.” With this in mind, Sukenik emphasizes an ongoing commitment to continually improving the process. Through steps like going green and renovating a classic downtown location into a modern destination, he certainly seems to be sticking to this.
“The Skybox excitement continued as we further developed the design of the space and in knowing that we were building something truly progressive for Knoxville’s entertainment scene,” Sukenik says. When you step off the elevators on the 5th level, it is obvious that every part of the Skybox’s design has been specifically tailored to spotlight the unique location. The bar itself is one-of-a-kind, hand-poured by artisan Alex Baumann, and sitting there you can see Neyland Stadium and our beautiful downtown. Stained wine racks run down between the windows and wood cabinets surround the area above the bar, nconspicuously housing televisions for watching the big game. Everything from the color on the walls to the light fixtures above the bar has warmth unique to such a modern design. If it’s a more intimate setting you want, round the corner and there you’ll find a seating area with tables and chairs, the perfect place for two to sip wine and watch the sunset over the beautiful Tennessee River.
Right in the middle of downtown, the Skybox is the perfect destination for those of us who work downtown and like to grab a 5 o’clock martini. With this in mind, later this month the Skybox will start serving a sort of high-end box lunch. Mid-day, you’ll be able to stroll over to the Sunsphere and pick up a lunch prepared by the Southern Graces culinary team. Say good-bye to McDonald’s and hello to a new style of fast food that caters to the modern down-towner.
The Sunsphere Skybox is the next big thing in the evolution of downtown Knoxville, and we are sure it will be as successful as Sukenik’s ventures thus far.
