Lunaverse Knoxville's Asylum 801 club is ready to blast off in extraterrestrial fashion
Orson Welles has nothing on the far-fetched story inspiring a new out-of-this-world nightclub in the newly established Asylum District that could expand what people consider the boundaries of downtown Knoxville.
The Lunaverse tall tale, from the mind of owner Scott West, goes like this: Rogue doctors from Oak Ridge recently hauled an extraterrestrial artifact they discovered to limestone caves beneath The International property in downtown Knoxville, where radiation technology was used to see what's inside. The experiment came with unexpected consequences, resulting in a rift in space and time that has caused these humans to become aliens, the past to become present, and myth to become reality.
The 21+ club, named Asylum 801, is not an individual business but rather the first piece of LunaVerse Knoxville, an arts and entertainment experience comprised of multiple warehouse buildings and outdoor gathering areas the Wests are planning across 3.5 acres at 940 Blackstock Ave.
That's larger than Market Square, which the Wests helped revitalize in the early 2000s. With 75,000 square feet of usable space across the warehouse buildings on site, LunaVerse could help bridge the University of Tennessee at Knoxville campus with downtown through the revitalization of underutilized property visible from Western Avenue when arriving downtown from the west.
Asylum 801, which West fully realizes will be casually referred to as The Asylum, is the first step in the planned entertainment complex. It opens April 4 in The International's former venue.
The party kicks off with a semi-final round of the Band Eat Band competition that's been happening at Scruffy City Hall, another West family venue, followed by one of three resident DJs that will perform each night the business is open, Thursday through Saturday.
"The first year I was planning on doing major artists (at The Asylum)," West told Knox News. "After a year of not getting this place open, I'm like: 'You know what? I'm going to do something that people can depend upon that's consistent.' ... So, I think we're going to build up a huge following by doing that."
Downtown Asylum District incorporates history in nightclub
Knox News got an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at The Asylum, which, at roughly 10,000 square feet, rivals The Mill & Mine in size. West said his family's investment in the nightclub building is in the "millions."
"Older folks who remember The Underground, there hasn't been a nightclub like that in a long, long time in downtown Knoxville," West told Knox News. "So, we're bringing back the nightclub dance club. It doesn't really exist right now."
The Asylum is located just next door to the former Concourse music venue, where West said he is planning four levels of entertainment for all ages, including games on the first floor and a Moonsphere on the roof "to contain the energy" of the science-fiction experiment inspiring all of LunaVerse.
But that comes later.
With all this activity planned in one place, what's what can get confusing. Let's break it down:
The Asylum District, an honorary historical name the Wests recently got approved by the Knoxville City Council, includes the overall LunaVerse development.
LunaVerse is comprised of The Asylum and other warehouse buildings and outdoor spaces the Wests are developing.
The Moonsphere would be a geodesic dome built atop the former Concourse building, which is part of LunaVerse.
The Asylum District name was chosen to resurface the history of Asylum Avenue before the street was raised and renamed Western Avenue.
The word "asylum" in the street name referred to the historical Tennessee Deaf and Dumb Asylum, which is now home to Lincoln Memorial University's Duncan School of Law. The building, roughly a half-mile walk from LunaVerse, also was home to Knoxville's city hall.
As Market Square business owners, the West family arguably is most known for Preservation Pub, whose name is inspired by the family's preservation of historic buildings. It's that mindset that first got West interested in the historic Blackstock Avenue property, which has featured multiple music venues over the years.
In addition to The International and The Concourse, the property also was home to The Valarium and the Electric Ballroom. But don't expect a reincarnation of these former venues, as the West family has been hard at work putting their own colorful, artistic touches on the space.
Resident DJs bring taste of Sassy Ann's, UT football to The Asylum
Upon walking through the doors, guests will be greeted by a stage and large LED screen along the back wall. The Wests also have installed screens that allow animations and other concert visuals to be projected on the side walls, making the live music experience feel more immersive.
Expect subtle nods to extraterrestrial life and science fiction, a theme the Wests are leaning into. West said he plans to call the outdoor area of LunaVerse the Extraterrestrial Contact Zone − the E.T. Contact Zone for short − which also serves as a reference to East Tennessee.
Throughout The Asylum, unique light fixtures and dangling decorations hang from the ceiling, capturing a unique artistic style that should signal to guests: This is a West bar.
West said he imagines bands would start around 8 p.m. most nights, with DJs taking over around 11 p.m. Thursdays will be led by Huglife, formerly known in the local dance scene as DJ Slink.
West said the 2018 closing of Sassy Ann's left a void in that scene, which he hopes to grow along with quarterback-turned-DJ Sterl the Pearl on Friday nights and DJ Andres Tapia on Saturday nights. The latter would play international dance music, drawing on the building's historical name and the property's proximity to a diverse student population at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.
UT students, with a valid student ID, will be able to enjoy $3 beer and half-price entry on Thursdays − $5 instead of $10, the cover charge most nights. An extra $30 will get you VIP balcony access, but a table is $300 and can sit 10 people.
An extra $25 will allow you to reserve a downstairs table with standard drink service at the main bar. In addition to a third inside bar, West has turned two Airstream-style campers into bars that eventually will be set up outside.
Pork, pizzas and parking also planned for The Asylum at LunaVerse
As for food, Aaron Hunt will be smoking and selling barbecue outside the venue. West purchased a hot dog cart from Brooklyn that will allow him to sell plain dogs with ketchup, mustard and relish.
That's in addition to the pizzas typically available at Preservation Pub, which will be prepped on Market Square and brought down to the venue to be completed in a pizza machine.
Once West is able to host outdoor concerts on the property featuring touring bands, he said, The Asylum could serve as an after-party spot for concertgoers.
Now for the big question: What about parking? LunaVerse has some of its own, but other options exist nearby.
"I have actually hired a guy who's just going to go around the streets of Knoxville around my business and clean up because I expect people to be parking on the streets and parking lots," West said.
West also is working on a rideshare drop-off area and a space for scooter and bike parking.
Once The Asylum is up and running, the business will operate on a Thursday-Saturday schedule 7 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. For more information, visit scruffycity.com/lunaverse.
Ryan Wilusz is a downtown growth and development reporter. Phone 865-317-5138. Email ryan.wilusz@knoxnews.com. Instagram @knoxscruff.
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Lunaverse Knoxville's Asylum 801 club is ready to blast off
