Blind Raven breathes new life into old Kingsport building

KINGSPORT — Blind Raven employees were polishing glasses, setting up furniture and checking inventory on Thursday to prepare for the restaurant's future opening. Aaron Carson, principal for Blind Raven's parent company Curiosity Shop Beverages, shared more about what the new spot at 107 E. Market Street in Kingsport will offer the community. Curiosity Shop Beverages operates both Gypsy Circus Cider Company in Kingsport and Atomic City Brewing in Oak Ridge. "There's some great things already here [in Kingsport], so let me start there," he said. "There's already some great businesses here that do a fantastic job, and we were kind of just looking for a niche where there's someplace to add a different dimension than everybody's used to." The decorative floral wallpaper and vintage book-filled shelves seen from the restaurant's front windows has piqued many passersby's interest. Carson said the establishment draws inspiration from lots of places but is aiming for a 1920's French, academic look. For cocktails, that means offering pre-prohibition cocktails from old fashioneds to Sazeracs. He said there will be "elevated pours" or signature cocktails, as well as personalized cocktails available. Blind Raven is expected to offer "Flight of the Raven" spirit flights, French and Belgian beers, plus absinthe service. "[Absinthe service] is something very different as well around here," he said. "So that way, it's more of a group kind of activity where you can personalize your absinthe to your taste and flavor profiles. And it goes to the table everyone gets to go from there." In the wine department, Carson said Blind Raven will carry a catalog of over 75 wines. Starting in December, they plan to do "Wine Down Wednesdays" where patrons can taste four different wines — with the selection rotating each week. "A lot of what our business is predicated on is educating our consumers and offering different experiences," he shared. Food options will include croissants, paninis, dirty martini dip, hand-stuffed olives and even desserts. Carson said lunch will be a focus for the restaurant, intending to open at 11 a.m. on operating days. Beyond food & drink Carson also has hopes for future programming and live music for the space, especially looking more towards December once the restaurant has been open for a couple weeks. He mentioned mahjong Mondays, mobile book sales, spin-your-own-record Thursdays and live music on select nights. "Jazz and bossa nova is going to be our kind of hallmark," he said. "We'll have some acoustic layered in there. Fridays and Saturdays we'll have some kind of medicine show, typically jazz, but sometimes it's acoustic. Something light, easy." He emphasized the Blind Raven will not be "a late night bar," staying open till 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 10 p.m. on other nights. Carson said the team is preparing for a November opening, with full details on an exact date to be announced later. For Carson, he said he has drawn much of his inspiration for the restaurant's menu and appearance from traveling to over 100 countries. Herbs that will be used for cocktails and other items are grown on site. "We've had a full-time crew here for over a year, because I think aesthetics matter," he said. "I think the key is to transform you to somewhere different, right? And that's kind of what we've tried to do here is give you a different vibe." Property assessment data shows that the former location of Market Street Social Club and Bears N Friends Toy Shoppe where Blind Raven will soon open is nearly a century old. For more information on the Blind Raven, visit https://www.facebook.com/Blindravenbrew or https://www.instagram.com/blindraventn/.