By JOSH AULT
6 News Reporter
KNOXVILLE (WATE) - One of the largest Cinco de Mayo celebrations in East Tennessee was held in downtown Knoxville.
The owners of Preservation Pub organized 'Fiesta on Market Square'.
Many business owners in Market Square are excited to see a continued interest in the area. Many were worried after Sundown in the City ended last month.
"It was a great opportunity to see the potential of what Market Square could be because up to this point it had really been a ghost town," said Preservation Pub events coordinator Bernadette West.
West says Market Square will continue to thrive because so many other people have seen its potential.
"It just takes awhile to develop," said West. "Sundown was part of that and now it's kind of like a little snowball rolling down a hill. It keeps getting bigger and bigger."
West says they plan to continue to have events like 'Fiesta on Market Square' to continue to draw large crowds to this part of the city.
"We are all about international festivities," she said. "We had St. Patrick's to celebrate Irish. This will be celebrating Spanish/Mexican heritage. Then we are doing another one in October for the German Heritage because I'm half German."
Market Square businesses owners are also optimistic about the future of Market Square.
"Sundown in the City helped everybody downtown," said Oodles Uncorked general manager Ashley Maynard, "Anytime you have that kind of venue it's going to help people out. I think we'll be fine without it."
"I was (worried) in the beginning, but with all these festivities that they are doing almost every week," said Soccer Taco general manager Jayme Guzman, "We are doing pretty good."
Only time will tell to see if Market Square will continue to thrive, but for now things look really good.
To find out more about Preservation Pub's next German celebration, visit their Facebook page.
