Jacks

I decided I would give this place another shot after not liking my first few experiences when they first opened. It’s a convenient location and the atmosphere on the inside is earthy, blissful, spirited and welcoming. It’s a little dirty here and there but it’s aesthetically simple. Their coffee has always been on the pricier side but they have a wide variety of beverages. Their foods and cute truckers, plants, are all expensive. It’s not for a poor-middle class student. The employees are laid back and casual, occasionally friendly but more about just getting the work done. It is definitely better now than my first few times but I still can’t get over the fact that the one bathroom they have is behind the counter.

Great atmosphere with a lots of seating! They sell plants, pots, books, and other stuff in that space. The coffee was great, but their food could be improved taste and portion wise in my opinion. Staff is super nice!

Nice, neat little coffee place that also sells some plants. It's a different sort of atmosphere that feels uniquely downtown Appalachian.
Coffee is rocking, service is fast and friendly. Weirdly sited on the lot-not big vehicle friendly, but that's not a bad thing. Park and walk in, or navigate the tight lot. I'll be coming again next time I'm close.

Jacks has a very calming environment. This make it a great place to study or get work done while drinking a coffee. There is free Wi-Fi here. The store does not have many “traditional syrups” but they do have many tasty more “earthy” ones. The staff was extremely nice and welcoming. The food was good but the portions were small. There is also limited parking in the front of the building so you may have to park else where.

I had high expectations for this place, & excited to visit but won't be back, here's why...
Let's start with the good:
- neat concept - plants & coffee 🌱☕
- cool nooks for working
- very clean bathrooms
- extremely lax vibe
- decent space for pics, working, meeting a friend or client
- set aside space for kids
- neat non-living items for sale (pens, books, pencils, pots for plants, menagerie of lil gifts).

The rest of the story:

Food: only 1 GF item & that was only avg tasting
(bread, which should be toasted, was soggy, not much avocado & lacked flavor.
I didn't try the coffee.

Baristas: Although sweet, they were eating (behind the counter) when I arrived, this is not only a Code violation but I didn't see them wash their hands before making customer's food / drinks.
They spent down time on their phones or talking to each other vs cleaning or caring for plants / customers.

Space: I can see where it was cute when originally set up but is now dirty & a lil run down now. Everything needs a good cleaning.

Plants: yes, they are for sale but prices are really "jacked up" compared to other places. 98% were in horrible shape!! Dirty leaves, yellow / brown leaves, under / over watered, mold in soil & BUGS everywhere!!! The prop station is cool & seemed better than the soil based plants. These come into them in good shape but suuuuper neglected. I'd be terrified to buy a plant from them & bring into my collection. Understandably I am a serious Plant Mama so this 💔

Wi-fi: Spotty at best. Reading the other reviews seem to all say the same. So if computer work is your goal, might keep this in mind.

Overall, not a place I'll bother to visit again. Hope they get it together, because it has major potential if they hire the right people.

A nice coffee shop in the middle of this small downtown of Knoxville. Although not as many coffee options as some of the bigger chain outlets, the place does indeed have nice well prepared coffee.
Apart from the coffee, the place also is a shop for antiques and decorative collectibles and offers ample seating to sip your coffee. A perfect place to enjoy few books with coffee!

Fantastically cute coffee shop. Lots of artisanal trinkets here all the way up to best selling books for purchase. I am THOROUGHLY impressed with the unique menagerie of items for sale from house plants, to plastic-free everyday items, to cute little pins. There is more to be discovered in this local establishment and I intend on returning for a longer stay next time. Also, the coffee and various drink options are sure to satisfy anyone looking for a beverage and good energy. Keep it up Jacks!

Hard pass for me. Not very friendly people and disgusting coffee. This coffee was horrible and it had chunks from the creamer. Super unappetizing. Also, four bucks for a small coffee is real dumb. You are way better off going to a decent place like k-brew or Capybara.

My favorite coffee shop. Perfect atmosphere, plenty of seating, it’s never been too loud, lots of ambient light — and the coffee is excellent! They have a (very) small selection of high quality whole bean coffees for sale. Many plants and other knickknacks for sale too.

The give it 4 stars and not 5 for two reasons. Food has often taken a really long time to receive for me, even for just a simple thing like a warmed up pastry. Secondly, they don’t open until 9 AM which is an utterly insane decision for a coffee shop. I often find myself going elsewhere for coffee simply because Jack’s isn’t open yet. K-Brew opens at 7:30 so you can have a coffee before going out for breakfast on the weekend or stop for coffee on your way to work. It’s hard to understand why Jacks’ doors are closed at those times

Quickly becoming my favorite local coffee shop.
The vibes are great, the plant selection is great (and cheap!) and the natural light in the space makes it perfect for studying, reading, or having a meeting. The environment is A+ but the coffee is some of the best "craft" coffee I've had and is definitely worth the trip even if you can't stay and hang out.