Dulcie’s Cafe Opens Second Location in Knoxville

Knoxville, October 16, 2025

News Summary

Dulcie’s Cafe, a family-run Jamaican kitchen, is expanding with a new location at 145 S. Gay Street in Knoxville. Owned by Sandra Allen and Jeneve Blake-Johnson, this cafe will initially function as a commissary while they work towards a full kitchen. The cafe specializes in authentic Jamaican dishes, inspired by their matriarch Dulcie Sherriah’s culinary traditions. A grand opening is expected in November, as the cafe continues to grow and adapt in response to community needs.

Knoxville is set to welcome the second location of Dulcie’s Cafe, a family-run Jamaican kitchen located at 145 S. Gay Street. The new site will work as a commissary while the family prepares to build out a full kitchen. The cafe is owned by the mother-daughter duo, Sandra Allen and Jeneve Blake-Johnson, who originally opened their first location at 703 N. Cherry Street in early 2020.

Dulcie’s Cafe first began as a food truck that operated three days a week, aiming to honor family traditions and recipes rooted in Jamaican culture. The cafe is named after their matriarch, Dulcie Sherriah, who was celebrated for her generous spirit and delicious meals in Kingston, Jamaica. Throughout their upbringing, Jeneve and Sandra experienced a rich tapestry of family traditions, including worship on Fridays and church on Saturdays, leaving Sundays as a special eating-out day.

Before immersing herself in the culinary world, Sandra Allen was born in Kingston, Jamaica, and later moved to Chicago, eventually settling in New York. Following her, Jeneve Blake-Johnson was born in Queens but grew up in Hixson, Tennessee, raised by her mother who managed a large family while balancing three jobs. The inspiration for their cooking began when Sandra started preparing traditional Jamaican dishes like oxtail and curry chicken to fund staff trips during her time in childcare.

The family made a significant trip to Jamaica when Jeneve was 11 years old, where they were able to learn more about their heritage from their grandmother, Granny Dulcie. Dulcie was known for her ability to feed every guest who visited, reflecting her legacy of generosity that the family aims to continue through Dulcie’s Cafe. Additionally, the lineage of the family includes ties to Jamaica’s Maroon Tribe, recognized for their resistance against enslavement.

In 2018, the family decided to establish Dulcie’s Cafe to honor Dulcie’s legacy. They secured a used food trailer and launched the cafe in April 2019, quickly gaining popularity after selling out on their opening day. The first brick-and-mortar location on Cherry Street opened in early 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic began, which forced a pivot towards takeout service.

Dulcie’s Cafe specializes in authentic Jamaican cuisine, offering dishes such as oxtail, curry chicken, brown stew chicken, and jerk chicken, featured alongside a rotating selection of sides. Collaboration with local businesses is a core value of their approach, as they intentionally do not serve alcohol to respect neighboring establishments.

As the new location on Gay Street develops, it will initially function as a preparation space. Both Jeneve and Sandra juggle multiple responsibilities; Jeneve works as a school counselor and is also a mother, while Sandra maintains her full-time job alongside her commitments to the cafe. The cafe is expanding its menu and has launched a food truck for events and catering opportunities.

A grand opening for the Gay Street location is anticipated in November, and the cafe regularly posts updates and special offers across its social media platforms. Currently, it operates Tuesday through Thursday from 11 AM to 8 PM, and Friday to Saturday from 11 AM to 9 PM, remaining closed on Sundays and Mondays. Additionally, customers can enjoy DoorDash delivery services for their convenience.

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Additional Resources

• Inside of Knoxville
• Wikipedia: Jamaican Cuisine
• WATE News
• Google Search: food truck theft Knoxville
• Knox News
• Google Scholar: Jamaican cuisine
• WBIR News
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Jamaica
• WATE News
• Google News: Dulcie’s Cafe Knoxville

Author: STAFF HERE KNOXVILLE WRITER

The KNOXVILLE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREKnoxville.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Knoxville, Knox County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Dogwood Arts Festival, Big Ears Festival, and Knoxville Asian Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Knoxville Area Chamber Partnership and United Way of Greater Knoxville, plus leading businesses in healthcare, education, and energy that power the local economy such as Covenant Health, University of Tennessee, and Tennessee Valley Authority. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREBristol.com, HEREChattanooga.com, HEREMemphis.com, and HERENashville.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Tennessee's dynamic landscape.