KaTom Restaurant Supply & Aretha Frankensteins Join Forces in New Location
A quick look at the decor can cause a pause: horror film posters adorn the walls. A skateboarding skeleton hangs from the ceiling. A genuine electric shock therapy machine from 1911 stands by the front door. Punk and rockabilly music pumps from the speakers.
This isn't the makings of haunted house or a Halloween store. This is the foundation of Aretha Frankensteins—one of the newest additions to Knoxville's ever-expanding restaurant scene. Already a local favorite in Chattanooga, Aretha Frankensteins has expanded to a second location on Chapman Highway in South Knoxville, opening its doors in November 2023.
A Chattanooga Institution Comes to Knoxville
The brainchild of long time restaurateur Jeff Brakebill, Aretha Frankensteins is a staple for Chattanooga college students and foodies. However, its expansion into Knoxville did not come about in the traditional way. Rather than Brakebill seeking to enter the Knoxville market, it was Sevierville-based KBS Restaurant Group that approached him with the idea to open a second Aretha Frankensteins location.
"We approached him," said Drew LauLusa, head chef at Aretha Frankensteins, who has worked in numerous KBS restaurants. Partnering to expand an existing restaurant instead of opening an all-new concept was a new path for KBS Restaurant Group owner Kirby Smith; a path inspired by a visit to the original Aretha Frankensteins location.
"Kirby Smith went down there; he's the one who loved the concept…this is actually the first partnered restaurant we've done…it's [Brakebill's] concept, we just partnered with him to operate," LauLusa said. "It's the first time he's borrowed a concept. I think that's why Jeff liked it. He saw Kirby's success up here in Sevierville, Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Knoxville."
The success that gave Brakebill confidence in KBS Restaurant Group is undeniable, as the company operates 13 restaurants under 11 different concepts. The group is responsible for numerous East Tennessee favorites mainly located in Sevier County, including Five Oaks Farm Kitchen, Scrambled Jake's Breakfast Co., No Way Jose's Cantina, and Cumberland Jack's. Besides quality food, devoted customers, and East Tennessee locations, another element links KBS Restaurant Group's disparate operations together: their relationship with KaTom Restaurant Supply.
KaTom & KBS: A Mutually Beneficial Partnership
The relationship between KaTom Restaurant Supply and KBS Restaurant Group spans years, with the former supplying restaurant equipment for all the latter's operations. Though this was the first time Aretha Frankensteins partnered with KaTom, LauLusa knew what to expect based on his many positive experiences with the company.
"My only experience is with KaTom," LauLusa said. "I'm surprised not everyone runs through there, honestly."
It's a sentiment Executive Chef Aaron Ward echoes.
"Being located in the same county that we conduct most of our business is obviously a bonus," Ward said. "The relationships that KaTom has with major equipment brands ensures the most competitive pricing and availability."
Although working with KaTom was a new experience for Aretha Frankensteins, KaTom is an old pro at helping KBS Restaurant Group open a new restaurant on time and with the right equipment.
"KaTom worked diligently through the opening process with manufacturers to ensure that we received the desired equipment package, or found alternatives that fit our needs, to make our opening goal a reality," says Ward.
A Bright Future Ahead
Knoxville's Aretha Frankensteins has so far been a success, drawing crowds from near and far. Hostess Kyla Johnson describes the customer base as a combination of locals and people who come based on their positive experiences at the original location.
"I had a lady telling me once that her and her daughter took a day trip from Ohio and drove here…they were like 'Hi, we're so excited, we just drove from like four-and-a-half, five hours!,'" Johnson said.
The kind of reputation that inspires cross-country trips to eat at a restaurant only comes when all the pieces are in place: great food, a solid concept, and the partnerships needed to sustain that level of success. It's a fact that likely isn't lost on Jeff Brakebill, the father of the Aretha Frankensteins concept, as he watches KBS and KaTom bring the restaurant to new levels of success.
"We're always in dialogue with him," LaLusa said. "I think he's just more excited about the success of it all."
