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Local Color: Vestal

Everybody goes to Mo’s—the regionally famous Vestal institution known as King Tut Grill. Owner Monir “Mo” Girgis brings in fans with his showmanship while his wife Seham satisfies diners with a craving for Middle-Eastern fare.

photo by Shawn Poynter

Everybody goes to Mo’s—the regionally famous Vestal institution known as King Tut Grill. Owner Monir “Mo” Girgis brings in fans with his showmanship while his wife Seham satisfies diners with a craving for Middle-Eastern fare.

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  • Not far from downtown Vestal, dominated by Pease Furniture’s green facade, stand the old headquarters of the Candoro Marble Company, now the site of the annual Vestival. Established in 1914, the company’s showroom was designed by famed local architect Charles Barber; outbuildings of the now-empty factory continue to decline, though the Candoro Arts and Cultural Center raises funds to preserve and restore the Candoro building.
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  • Vestal United Methodist Church offers a grand architectural home for spirituality, directly across Ogle Avenue from Pease Furniture.
  • Harry Allen has owned the Vestal homebrew shop Allen Biermakens since before homebrewing became “cool.”
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  • On Martin Mill Pike, Sherby Jones makes pine cone dolls on the porch of Tea & Treasures.
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  • Everybody goes to Mo’s—the regionally famous Vestal institution known as King Tut Grill. Owner Monir “Mo” Girgis brings in fans with his showmanship while his wife Seham satisfies diners with a craving for Middle-Eastern fare.
  • The interior decor’s unique sense of style is also a big draw (particularly the yearly Christmas nativity scenes).
  • Lila Honaker enjoys one of King Tut’s trademark Greek salads—“the best in Knoxville,” as Mo always promises.
  • At Maryville Pike roadhouse Susie Q’s, current owner John Rhinehart (middle) sits with his friends Richard Turner (left) and Buster Brashears. Rhinehart is selling the bar, and the name will change to Ozzie’s in mid-May.
  • Future owner of the bar, Valerie Kivett (far left) dances with Charles E. Dunn.
  • The newest addition to the Vestal dining scene, Love That BBQ, has been drawing crowds of ’cue lovers to the former gas station, including Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett (far left).

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