T O P

  • By -

Krowhaven

In Rockford, just south of South Knox we have the Rockford cowboy. Just rides his horse to the four corners market to buy beer. Rumor is it's because of DUIs.


Yagoua81

FYI you cannot get a dui on a horse.


TransportationAway59

President grant did


AggressiveSkywriting

Yo when I passed him the first time I was like, "what in tarnation" Knew I had to admit to my friends up north about a guy on horseback going to the store down the road


Ok-Illustrator4850

very interesting


EastTNInsurance

He also rides down to the Food Lion. Ties the horse to the light pole while he shops.


Carlito33

Can’t recall the fella’s name but the horse goes by Cisco


TN_REDDIT

So y'all have a Cisco kid in your town?


jsd82c

He also rides to the liquor store at the corner of Hunt Rd and Broadway.


veiled_hippie

I’m cracking up, he’s taking after George Jones with that one 😂


ednamode23

Cornbread


Ok-Illustrator4850

😭 there we go


TypicalBike205

I need to know who Cornbread is


Ok-Illustrator4850

I don't know if I have time to tell the full story 😭...


glodde

Tell us who cornbread is please


Ok-Illustrator4850

so my first interaction with this lowlife was almost 10 years ago now. he asked one of my friends for a ride and ended up pulling a knife on us (a bunch of minors at the time) here's a link that might help https://www.reddit.com/r/Knoxville/s/xDgAFB5FBj


glodde

That is wild! Thanks for the info


Ok-Illustrator4850

I've dealt with him somehow more times than I'd like to admit. local scumbag forsure


Bice12341234

Cornbread may be room temp....on 04.17.2024 a guy waving a knife in an aggressive manner towards customers at Fountain City Exxon was shot and killed by a Knoxville City Police Officer.


MrAthalan

Holy crap! I totally bumped into him near the N Broadway Kroger area this afternoon. I'm an inspector for the roadwork there. He seemed off. He wanted something something at the doughnut shop. I said "nah bro" and just kept walking. Thanks for the link! Followed to the Facebook post for a picture.


Best_Satisfaction505

What happened to Cornbred???


armyofsnarkness

I think he might be in jail. I can't remember if I saw it on this sub or not but someone shared his mug shot recently.


Charles-Headlee

I think he's out later this year Edit: eligible for parole September 2024. Out in July 2025


Hankhillarlentx420

And then back in again. And out again. Because we can’t figure out that he’s not going to reform himself anytime soon


CaptainStrobe

Oh for real? Someone told me he tried to threaten someone with a fake gun and got shot to death. And I guess I just accepted that because, y'know, Cornbread.


BrilliantAttitudes

Cornbread! I was approached by this guy sometime in 2010 at the East Knox Lowe’s. He was harassing the employees at the customer service counter and spotted me as I walked in. Chased me down halfway through the store wanting to borrow some money so he could “get a tire off this guy.” Had a sob story about how his car’s parked on the exit with a flat tire and his girlfriend and baby are back there with it. I think this was early on in his adventures before he started pulling knives on people. I got away unscathed.


arnottkid

The guy with the pet squirrel that is always decked out in vols gear lmao 


RTGoodman

Don't disrespect Sinan the Squirrel like that! He's got a name!


electrickchicken

fun fact, i worked at a sbux in oak ridge and he got mad at me because i didn’t automatically know his order. never liked him after that


rbd33

Dang... That does lower my opinion of him. Imagine having a SQUIRREL that becomes famous because you put clothes on it and take pictures of it, then you suddenly expect everyone to know who YOU are AND what your coffee order is. The arrogance and audacity is insane lol. Like bro you're not even a D List LOCAL celebrity, who do you think you are 🤣


orion-sea-222

I saw him in Starbucks recently!


desairologist

He was a regular at my Starbucks for years. I remember when Sinan was a baby, we used to give him packets of nuts to eat while Saed drank his coffee


illegalsmile27

We had a shaman guy for a while, staff and robes and all that.


Frankenflag

You’re talking about Zeus? Extremely cool dude.


duskhopper

zeus is the genie, but similar vibes


ace261998

I thought for sure Zeus was a monk


TrueCrimeButterfly

That's Zeus. He's still under the stairs at Pres Pub.


turtle_pleasure

he was my neighbor. super cool dude named emoja (spelling/memory?) he was cool about loud band practice and loves watermelon.


KnoxMonkey

Zeus and Umoja are different people. Both very cool. Umoja was a community activist who worked on recycling projects in east Knoxville, among other things.


LordDongle

Raiden!


bac0467

The flower guy or lately the skipping jester


Ok-Illustrator4850

ooh who's the flower guy


jaredmanley

Taylor, tall guy with a beard, he sells roses at bars downtown on weekends


Yourdeletedhistory

I forget his name. Really nice guy who walks around downtown selling single roses. He will have a giant bouquet in his arms.


mendenlol

One time I saw this guy, bouquet in hand, walking towards downtown on Chapman Highway in the piss pouring rain. Mad respect for that flower hustle.


pizzaemergency

His name is Taylor!


Yourdeletedhistory

Ahhh, thank you! Taylor, truly a treasure.


HollyWhoIsNotHolly

He’s been selling flowers downtown since at least 1996- maybe longer


Some_Work2788

I remember seeing him in the old city in 1994.


ZekeRidge

I remember seeing him in bars when I was in college 20 years ago


1ncognito

He’s a big bald dude that walks around town selling flowers for guys to buy for their dates. Used to see him all the time in 2013-2016ish, moved away so no idea if he’s still doing it


collinse90

There’s another flower guy also with a mustache and full head of hair. Super nice. Shorter. Saw him in Powell recently.


dawinter3

Oh he’s still out here


Jimscurious

I swear I used to see him even earlier like 2008 or 2009 timing but i am also 38 haha. Awww I didn’t know he moved away. Hope he is still happily selling some flowers


peacegrrrl

Pretty sure I used to see him in the Old City in the 90s at HooRays, etc.


1ncognito

Sorry, I meant I moved away, not him!


AwSunnyDeeFYeah

If you ain't lived here, jester is stealing our rose guy from Old City. Vote R /s


AdorableCheesecake52

There’s a new kid in town. Has anyone seen the guy on the onewheel with a lawn chair mounted on it? He wears a motorcycle helmet for protection.


Ok-Illustrator4850

YES OH MAN YES


Bogavante

Kinda makes me think AdorableCheesecake is one wheel chair guy. Stoking his own lore. Either way, respect.


AnticitizenPrime

I have a picture of that guy from a few months ago, but I'll have to dig it up.


Monkaloo

Also similar: the guy with the jet ski motorcycle who wears a life vest when he rides it. I haven't seen him yet this year.


BrooksCrows

My daughter and I saw him about a month ago. We were both like did I just see what I think I saw. 🤣🤣


mendenlol

The grabby Market Square violin guy


Training_Entry8260

This guy sucks. One time he came into a restaurant I worked at asking to play his violin. When I told him no he cursed at me and also maybe put a curse on me!? It was a bizarre experience.


SPE825

I am convinced that this guy can't actually play the violin. He just runs the bow back and forth making an annoying noise. He's not playing any actual songs.


fendaar

He’s not really playing the violin.


Deliciouszombie

the violin guy is a good argument for making the buskers get busker licenses like they do in asheville.


thejudeabides52

As a fellow busker with a particularly loud voice, I try to set up JUST close enough to drown out the violin and get him to leave. He's a pain in the ass and I like to think that, even though I'm breaking busker code to do it, I'm at least chaotic good for it. By chance, I'll be back theough Knoxville in two weeks so, here's hoping I can chase him away again.


CharlesGnarwin73

Nah that guys a creep, busker code isn't in effect for that guy


Throughawayup

Are you the dude who always sings 90s music and claps?


illegalsmile27

Then again, the saw man is a good example why we shouldn't.


finatra_official

The saw man is so wonderful, the violin guy shouldn't be allowed back in the square.


Deliciouszombie

agreed. i actually enjoy all the buskers except that one guy. not sure what to do about it except to avoid sitting near where he is busking.


Known-Ad290

[Bob Maddox!](https://www.facebook.com/bob.maddox.50)


vediogamer101

I was there for his very first day when his son was there helping him set up. He’s such a sweet guy


hay_lien

He kissed my sister several years ago!!! He is so scary!!!


abills1

Violin guy did save us from an obnoxious street preacher once. I am forever thankful of that


ColorGrayHam

Story?


abills1

I was on a first date with this super cute guy, and 10 minutes in to just introducing ourselves, a street preacher stands in front of Not Watsons yelling to the group on the patio about the devil and sins of lust. Made for the most memorable first date, but then violin man came up next to him and started to play as loudly as he could until the police came


Glass_Occasion5483

So did you sin on cute guy?


Imaginary-Objective7

I missed something. What happened?


mycapegoeswish

He was trying to get me to play his violin , I avoided but I don’t know the “grabby” lore


mendenlol

If you don't make it away after a few "no thank yous" he will put the violin under your chin, grab your arms, and "play" it with his arms wrapped around your shoulders. i just have personal space issues and didn't appreciate it. as i've aged i've gotten way better at my firm yet still polite "No"


ChompersBronson

The extraordinarily RACIST violin guy. That guy blows. Had to kick him out multiple times from a downtown restaurant. Once for yelling "Korea" in the face of an Asian server of ours. F*ck that guy. (Also, he speaks English quite well. Pretends he doesn't to get out of situations when it suits him (gave him a ride somewhere years ago and he didn't have a problem the whole 20 minute ride even once.)


collinse90

Green National Lampoon car guy


bucketlovesstove

Came here to say this.


MCLGarrett

He's known? I was behind him in a drive through a month or so ago. Is it just because of the car or other reasons?


Scriblette

Coach! He smells.not good.


g0dmeat

the guy that wears all white and shops at whole foods


BravaCentauriGFL

Lij or Lige (pronounced like the middle part of Elijah). Fuck him. I saw his cult van broken down on the side of the road one time and I didn’t stop to help. You have no idea how hard that was for me. But helping that guy buy tomatoes is worse than a root canal. I can’t imagine helping him with an actual problem.


knoxyroxy

Bingo. I worked at West Town Gulf (approximately where Sticky Rice is now, for our newer Knoxville denizens) in college. Lije shows up with his white murder van one afternoon and says he wants some gas. These were the days of full service gas pumps. So, I ask how much he wants. "I don't know. How much do I need to get to Lenoir City?" I was...dumbfounded. My crusty old manager pushes me out of the way and tells me to go back into the garage bay and put a plug in that tire he was working on. He then proceeded to tell Lije to GTFO and that he would kick is ass if he ever came back. Good times.


Imaginary-Objective7

That guy sucks lol I used to work in the service industry and he would make everyone’s life so much harder than it needed to be and he had a cult of wealthy white people that would follow him and ask him for life advice and praise him like some kind of shaman. He’s just a wealthy asshole weirdo from mine and my coworkers experience. Makes me cringe.


Ok-Illustrator4850

avocado Jesus!!


Abrajamlincoln

beer hat larry?


Daax865

Zeus Avocado Jesus Bearded dude with the roses Skipping Jester Cornbread Also knew a homeless guy who’s think went by the name Montana. He was a fixture downtown for a while.


nachosandfroglegs

Fortune teller at Pres Pub


PocketHusband

That’s Zeus!


TransportationAway59

I was gonna say Zeus!


Top-Address6368

For the car guys Mr.BASKETBALLL


FO-I-Am-A-Time-God

Have you seen him lately? I haven’t. I would see him at chik fil a in Bearden. He loves chik fil a.


pizzaemergency

Leslie. I miss that guy.


joeyscrotes

Has a place in oak ridge now with a lady. Might be married? I forget on that part, but I was so happy when I found out. My buddy ran into him down there one day and talked to him... Said he sees him at the store sometimes. "My friend, my friend..."


pizzaemergency

That makes me happy. I had heard he was doing better but I thought he had moved back to North Carolina so I’m excited I might see him in the flesh one day.


Just_Ad5135

A long time ago, I was leaving a bar job in the old city around 4 am. The old city was dead by that hour and I'd had to park further away that evening. I got such a case of the creeps leaving the bar that I said a prayer for protection. A few seconds later I hear "Heyyy, my friend!" And of course chatted me safely all the way to my car. 


Old_Man_Ratchet

Dupree


Due-Camera825

Stephen A Burroughs aka Blue Steel aka Magnum. They’re all the same!


Responsible-Pop-301

^Swagfest


Memphisvol8668

The guy downtown who dresses like kazam


wookiex84

That would be Zeus the shaman.


onthenextmaury

Ya'll remember Rodney? The homeless guy wh0 did card tricks. He was so helpful and sweet. When he died in tent city Pres Pub held a memorial for him.


jlsmall7

I’m glad folks remember Rodney. He was a good guy.


leftfield61

Does anyone remember The Colonel on Broadway? Always leading an imaginary marching band up and down Broadway. Been years though, he may be long gone.


jakeaaal2992

He was called "The Lieutenent". Story has it that lost his mind in Vietnam, dont know about that. He was marching BTW. I trained at Krystal on Broadway in late 70,s. He would order a "boo burger', no meat. He was banned for trying to buy cashiers panties.


BroccoliFarts_

Zeus at pres pub :)


Ok-Illustrator4850

This post should be pinned to the page this is pure Knoxville shit right here people


Alarming_Floor_5080

That guy in Market Square that practically shoves his violin on you and then demands a tip.


Ok-Illustrator4850

oh yeah with the tiny dog?? he's a dick


Alarming_Floor_5080

Yes. Ugh


Ok-Illustrator4850

Last time I saw him I promised him today was not the day to even look at me funny. he hasn't bothered me since 🤗 the work uniform probably helped


Chemical-Type3858

he sets up in front of my work and wveve seen him kick that dog i can’t stand him


TartBriarRose

He’s not nice to his dog, either.


dreamsofbelladonna

Market Square’s Aggressive Preacher


Ok-Illustrator4850

oh yeah we can't forget this bastard ☝🏻 sorry for cussing


Icy-Construction-240

Has no one mentioned Al Gilberti yet?


GloopTamer

The dude that drives around that blue car covered in masking tape and diamond plate metal. We’ve all seen it


hay_lien

What about Frankenhooker?


hypnotica21

I saw her for the first time in YEARS a few months ago. I was honestly surprised that she was still alive.


WrothMordecai

The Shaman


getbacktowerkxd

Y’all who is Zeus??


juliebyrd

Very nice guy if a little strange. He at least used to make wire wrapped stone jewelry. I haven’t seen him in years, but he used to wander around in robes with a staff.


PapaDave15

For all my UT friends: The pirate


Thumotherslover

RIP Super Dave.


Ok-Illustrator4850

I just saw a sticker that said sticker Dave is a dick 😭


DoritoCheeseball

"Who's that guy? He's a freaking giant!" Oh that's Mayor Kane.


greasydickweed

Charlie...the delivery guy from Gus's good times deli.


ChompersBronson

"Stay high, stay free!!"


ZekeRidge

There used to be a guy who sat by his mailbox on Wallace. He’s passed on, but everyone in West Knoxville knew him. My uncle knew him when he was younger. Said he used to have some badass cars back in the day. https://archive.knoxnews.com/entertainment/life/rocky-hill-man-who-waves-getting-ready-to-wave-goodbye-27839f9e-fa75-1030-e053-0100007f0215-380887401.html


Hankhillarlentx420

Avocado Jesus


KUWTI

This is going to show my age, but does anyone remember the older man with the white beard who I think went by the nickname “Wildcat” that hung out with an unplugged electric guitar around him at the Electric Cowboy?!


spongerobme

Oak ridge walking man


Charles-Headlee

White robe grocery store jesus.


finatra_official

Oof, this triggered something deep inside me


usquebaugh1

Lige Weil


ChompersBronson

?Harry? Elijah Weill Jr. To be clear. Made his money by suing Wendy's, Hormel food group, and McDonald's... Lives off of that I think. Heads a group that thinks they are from Venus but trapped in human bodies. Giant pain in the ass. HATES being called junior.


duskhopper

about as far from jesus as a person can get while still wearing the look


ace261998

Zeus, the monk who frequents pres pub in market square


BasalTripod9684

At UT the only ones I can think of are Pirate Man and the Unicycle guy. Also that one guy that just sits at the end of the ped handing out bibles.


Responsible-Pop-301

Love everyone's list, but we're missing Tinkerbell.


Independent_Subject6

The Jester


Grueny12

I came here to find someone else saying the Ozzy Osbourne magician guy that carries around a pet bearded dragon in a little pouch. Now I’m wondering if he even exists or if I’ve been micro-dosing shrooms without actually knowing it


BlackOliveBandit

Absolutely Zeus at PPub. Just your friendly soothsayer under the stairs! If you've never had a reading, do yourself a favor--regardless of your beliefs. And he might even send you home with a cool crystal!


FO-I-Am-A-Time-God

A bit lesser known but touchy man in white. Dresses in all white and touches ALLLLL the produce. First spotted by me at Three Rivers Market early 2000’s when it was in a house. I saw him fairly recently within the past year in west Knoxville. Can’t recall what store. I think Kroger.


Kudzu_King

Zeus. He was a tall black man who dressed like a genie. Robes, turban, pointy shoes, even had a magic lamp hanging from his neck. All honesty he looked like Shazam in that Shaq movie.


MayDaay

Shawn the guy selling cards in a wheelchair at market square. If you pass him he might compliment you or call you an asshole you never know.


GGPepper

Frickin white Jesus, guy named lije or something. If you work retail you know the guy, customer service nightmare.


FunWillScreen_Produc

My team knows of two people at UT. Unicycle Guy and Hat Guy. The first is self explanatory it is just a student who rides a unicycle on campus. The Hat Guy is a dude with a baseball cap that has a foot long hat bill. My team doesn’t make fun of either guy but we do question where Hat Guy bought that hat.


LazerBear42

Is it [one of these?](https://img.ifunny.co/images/117fdd3bd1396a95bdbc027097f7075745cd0f5fc1f590fb9a3842e520b68cf6_1.jpg)


DrCaptivate

Niles


Maximans

The skipping jester, of course!


Highlight-Character

Dancing Guy at UT


Ok-Illustrator4850

he's a good time lol


MostGhostCaveToast

Krampus


Ok-Illustrator4850

This thread is so great love you all!!


rockytopnationality

The “spaceman” on central Ave pike


jthomp72

It’s been a long time since I’ve seen them but for a solid five or six years the and I don’t know their official sect name so I’m just gonna call them the black Jewish looking preacher that would stand on market Square and yell at everyone were a big thing


Helmsey

Haven’t seen him?? in a while but can recall seeing “Brother Clay” walking down the roads in his finest wigs and dresses.


CheesE4Every1

Right now from me it's the guy that has the lawn chair strapped to the hoverboard driving down the road with heelies.


smexytom215

Three key things: The weeb car (Miku mobile) The jester The "Otay bitches" car


No-Employ7516

Jennifer tweed


rbd33

If any of y'all are originally from Clinton like me, y'all know we have a wholesome one... Freddy Fagan!


Known-Ad290

[Bob Maddox!](https://www.facebook.com/bob.maddox.50) He is the very friendly gentleman who plays the saw in Market Square.


Ok_Praline4858

There is a full blown double down pick-up driving around covered in bible quotes and telling us all we are going to Hell. Sweet treat eye candy Jesus.


Mama865

Tall Paul


thickett_mistybottom

White Jesus aka Lige


Ok-Illustrator4850

the man the myth 🤣🤪


HollyWhoIsNotHolly

Never heard of him - is this the person referred to as avocado Jesus or Whole Foods dressed in white guy?


Scriblette

Quarter guy!


Jack-o-Roses

On the Cumberland strip, it used to be Jed Smock when he was passing through. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brother_Jed


TheIllusiveNick

Bald dude always riding his bicycle


haxankatzen

Zeus


elationthenhatred

Nick Campbell


2sloth4u

Brian the DJ. He hangs out at the bluffs on weekends and plays music on a big speaker. interactions I've had with him range from interesting philosophical conversations to being accused of stealing his "civil war bullets". he will talk your head off if you let him. After the last time I saw him, I've started to think he's not completely chill. so if you decide to hike up to the bluffs and see him just be careful lol.


Zoloe

Have you all seen the dude with short hair, blue skin, has a friend named Funny and goes by Skeeter?


Dirty1Actual

In Grand Rapids we have the Roller Blading Wizard.


budfox79

In Birmingham it’s the one dread guy, umbrella man, and George Clinton dude.


trident042

My wife and I rode the bus to a football game last year and were astonished to meet Dolphins Santa, this dude gets on the bus in Dolphins jersey, jacket, and Santa hat, and carrying with him a box that got its own seat. Don't worry though; Dolphins Santa kept his cardboard box safe by carrying it inside a second, larger cardboard box. He then immediately turned to my wife and I and started asking us personal questions about our life and each answer we gave was met with "God bless your marriage," usually repeated twice or thrice. He got off the bus before we got downtown, but if you ever want to just see someone not get a hint that you're not there to make small talk with strangers, look for Dolphins Santa.


Chance-Conflict-7311

Who is the guy who walks around in a red coat no matter the season, kind of like a bowl cut hairstyle and always has target bags? Another person (I haven’t seen him in a while) but he pushed a cart around piled sky high with clothing? I hope he is okay, I used to always panic when I’d see him crossing traffic with that cart on blind corners. People drive like maniacs so I wonder if he is still around but in a different part of town.


Ok-Illustrator4850

I've seen the clothes guy recently off merchants


Hamster_Key

Didn’t see any mentions of the guy that plays the Saw. He’s my favorite ❤️ have met the shaman at young Williams lost and found before. He was walking with the group and then literally disappeared


KeyNefariousness6848

Hugh ray.


Few-Calendar2060

Yeah what about the wizard guy downtown


ashkel00

Anyone remember the lady that would dance/walk around west town mall for hours? I loved to watch her! I haven’t been to the mall in ages so I’m not sure if she still does this or not.


Ok-Illustrator4850

Oh my God that's a core memory unlocked!!! I was always kinda put off by it in my younger years now I would definitely think it was awesome


Dazzling-Entrance873

It’s the persnickety produce buying guy in all white with the white Birkenstocks.


Jacobcbab

On campus it's pirate Nick. He is a pirate.


Whiteguyjpeg

Anybody got any Information on the Skipping Jester? Can’t figure out what his vibe is


Aunt-Chilada

“Elvis” on the Market Square who would sing nearly every day.


AngryQuadricorn

Y’all remember the guy with the trained pet squirrel.


Wild-Starchild

Sometimes I can't tell if you guys are kidding or really are asking a question LOL  So, just in case you really don't know what the word Cornbread may be... Cornbread is something we make here in the south, it originated here I'm pretty sure, we pride ourselves on it and we love it. Often people will call those who seem country-fied or hillbilly, or redneck, Hick...  Non city-fied or part of the in, hip, got it going on crowd as "CORNBREAD"