KARM Stores and Pal’s Sudden Service. If I was in Ohio and said that, people would have no idea what I was talking about. If I said it in Knoxville, however, everyone would know. Although they might wonder why I am putting them together in a title.
It all started with Ranger Lucas. All the rangers know that Tom and I try to do one new thing a week. All of them suggest things for us to try. It has almost gotten to be competition to see who can suggest the most things that we actually try. I think Ranger Lucas is winning at this point. After work one day we were talking about our one new place that week and Ranger Lucas asked if we had been to KARM. Having no idea what it was, we said no. He suggested we head there after work on Friday together. His wife works at KARM on Friday evenings and we could surprise her. Sounded like fun to us.
It turns out KARM stands for Knoxville Area Rescue Ministries. They have 25 thrift stores in the Knoxville area that finance the work of KARM, which provides meals, job trianing, life skills, and healthcare for people struggling in the Knoxville area. Kristy works at the Jefferson City KARM store, so that is where we headed after work on Friday.
The KARM store was very similar to a Goodwill store. There were lots of clothes sorted into appropriate categories. Household goods and furniture were displayed around the edge of the store. Tom found a couple of polo shirts that were in good shape and fit him. I found some 3x 100% cotton t-shirts. I want them for rag rugs and all the t-shirts were the same price. So I figured I might as well get the biggest size I could find and get more material for my money. Lucas found a really nice lap desk, I picked up a puzzle, and Tom found a wooden divider. Although KARM is pricier than some places, we all felt we found treasures at bargain prices.
And Kristy was surprised and pleased to see us. She said seeing Lucas, even if just for a few minutes, made her day. Because Kristy lives and works near Knoxville and Lucas lives and works near Cumberland Gap, they don’t usually see each other during the week.
After our visit to the thrift store, we were ready for some supper. Lucas gave us a quick tour of Jefferson City and the campus of Carson-Newman University. When the Tennessee Valley Authority built the Cherokee dam, Jefferson City became a more popular place to live. As we drove around, we talked about where to go for supper. We had planned to eat in Morristown, but I saw a Pal’s Sudden Service and suggested that.
Yes, Pal’s Sudden Service is a place to eat and not a quick lube stop. Well, not really a place to eat. It is drive-through only. But it is a Knoxville area institution, just like KARM. How could we leave the area without eating at one? Lucas explained the menu which is pretty basic. Burgers, hot dogs, fries, and shakes. On Lucas’s recommendation, we each ordered a Big Pal with Frenchie Fries and a drink. Then we parked in the shade of a closed store to eat our burgers.
The burgers and fries were good, but not great. But the price was reasonable and the service was fast. Even though the drive-through line was long, we were served quickly. And the building was fun to look at. I don’t know that I would go there often, but it is a good place to stop if you need to get a meal quickly.
We had a fun evening with Lucas at KARM and Pal’s. We wouldn’t have tried either one of them without him along. With him as an escort, we got a taste of some Knoxville area culture.