Big Orange Business

Downtown Knoxville hasn’t always looked the way it does today.

In this episode of the Big Orange Business Podcast, Haley Jones sits down with Natalea Cummings of Mast General Store in downtown Knoxville to talk about how the store helped shape Gay Street’s growth, why Knoxville has changed so dramatically over the past 10–20 years, and what it really takes to run a retail business that serves everyone “from cradle to casket.”

We talk about:

• The transformation of downtown Knoxville
 • How Mast General Store chose Knoxville before it was booming
 • The Nimville scavenger hunt (12 hidden bronze “nims” downtown)
 • UT game days and Knoxville tourism
 • Running a successful local retail business
 • Why community partnerships matter for small business growth

If you're interested in Knoxville business, relocating to East Tennessee, supporting local shops, or learning how iconic brands grow in changing downtown markets — this episode is for you.

📍 Mast General Store
 402 South Gay Street
 Downtown Knoxville, Tennessee
 Website: mastgeneralstore.com

The Big Orange Business Podcast highlights local Knoxville businesses, entrepreneurs, and the people helping shape East Tennessee’s future.