No matter how many times it happens, J.C. Holdway owner and chef Joseph Lenn is thrown for a loop upon arriving at his downtown restaurant to find soil on the sidewalks − the work of an unknown person who ripped out his flowers and vanished into the night. A plant vandal.

The perpetrators might change, but the puzzling plant destruction always ends the same way: Someone has to pick up the pieces of ripped-out roots and shredded stems in the morning.

Downtown reporter Ryan Wilusz and visual journalist Brianna Paciorka talk about what this mysterious trend could tell us about downtown Knoxville and the ramifications vandalism can have on a city's identity.

"The Scruffy Stuff" is presented by knoxnews.com. Want more downtown analysis? Sign up for the free weekly Urban Knoxville newsletter by clicking here, and join the downtown discussion by becoming part of the Urban Knoxville group on Facebook.

No matter how many times it happens, J.C. Holdway owner and chef Joseph Lenn is thrown for a loop upon arriving at his downtown restaurant to find soil on the sidewalks − the work of an unknown person who ripped out his flowers and vanished into the night. A plant vandal.
The perpetrators might change, but <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/money/business/2023/09/20/downtown-knoxville-patios-are-the-victims-of-plant-vandalism/70618142007/">the puzzling plant destruction</a> always ends the same way: Someone has to pick up the pieces of ripped-out roots and shredded stems in the morning.
Downtown reporter Ryan Wilusz and visual journalist Brianna Paciorka talk about what this mysterious trend could tell us about downtown Knoxville and the ramifications vandalism can have on a city's identity.
"The Scruffy Stuff" is presented by <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/">knoxnews.com. </a>Want more downtown analysis? Sign up for the free weekly Urban Knoxville newsletter by <a href="https://profile.knoxnews.com/newsletters/urban-knoxville">clicking here,</a> and join the downtown discussion by becoming part of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/2476530172607529/">the Urban Knoxville group on Facebook.</a>

Every Tuesday, host Ryan Wilusz and expert guests bring you the latest news happening in and around downtown Knoxville. "The Scruffy Stuff" is presented by knoxnews.com, part of the USA Today Network.

Every Tuesday, host Ryan Wilusz and expert guests bring you the latest news happening in and around downtown Knoxville. "The Scruffy Stuff" is presented by knoxnews.com, part of the USA Today Network.

Each Monday, Ryan Wilusz and expert guests bring you the latest news happening in and around downtown Knoxville. "The Scruffy Stuff" is presented by Knox News, part of the USA Today Network.

The Scruffy Stuff

Kick back with Ryan Wilusz and Calvin Mattheis each Monday for the latest news happening in and around downtown Knoxville, and stay tuned on Thursdays for "Last Call" conversations with special guests. "The Scruffy Stuff" is presented by Knox News, part of the USA Today Network.

No matter how many times it happens, J.C. Holdway owner and chef Joseph Lenn is thrown for a loop upon arriving at his downtown restaurant to find soil on the sidewalks − the work of an unknown person who ripped out his flowers and vanished into the night. A plant vandal.  The perpetrators might change, but the puzzling plant destruction always ends the same way: Someone has to pick up the pieces of ripped-out roots and shredded stems in the morning.  Downtown reporter Ryan Wilusz and visual journalist Brianna Paciorka talk about what this mysterious trend could tell us about downtown Knoxville and the ramifications vandalism can have on a city's identity.  "The Scruffy Stuff" is presented by knoxnews.com. Want more downtown analysis? Sign up for the free weekly Urban Knoxville newsletter by clicking here, and join the downtown discussion by becoming part of the Urban Knoxville group on Facebook.