Sears Roebuck Building (Knoxville)

The Sears Roebuck Building, also known as the Old Sears Building, is a historic office building in Knoxville, Tennessee, originally constructed in 1948 as a retail store for Sears, Roebuck & Company. It was notable for being the first major department store outside Downtown Knoxville and featured the largest free parking lot in the city at the time. The building has a rich history, including hosting a record-signing event by country music legends in 1949. After closing in 1984, it was repurposed for the Knox County School System and now houses various county services. The building has also made its mark in popular culture, appearing in literature as a symbol of mid-20th century retail architecture.