Editor’s Note: After this article was written, two more Cash Mobs were held on Friday, March 9, benefiting Disc Exchange and the Wee Care Shoppe.
The South Knoxville community has recently become a prime example of a new phenomenon that is sweeping the nation. Already, local businesses are feeling the effects of this trend known as…the Cash Mob.
    “It’s not just about the money that comes in that day; it’s about a real small business that doesn’t have a lot of money and a marketing budget,” Chris Smith, engineer, blogger and creator of the Cash Mob, told WBUR in Boston. “They get a little earned media coverage they wouldn’t normally get that allows them to establish themselves a little bit more.”
     The Cash Mob movement, a variation of the famous Flash Mob, is an event in which locals descend upon a small business on a certain day and spend a few bucks in order to stimulate the economy. This effort has become so popular that March 24 is National Cash Mob Day.
     Since the closing of the Henley Street Bridge back in 2011, the South Knoxville area has taken a hard hit to its economy. After hearing about the success of Cash Mobs in other states such as Ohio, Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett had the idea to plan a few Mobs locally to help out the struggling community.
     “I was watching some late-night, feel good program about something, and they this thing ‘that’s sweeping the nation: cash mobs;’ I thought ‘Hey, why don’t we do that here?” Burchett told WBIR Reporter Stony Sharp. “What better place than South Knoxville?”
     One local business has already been the object of South Knoxville’s attention. After decades of selling knick-knacks and old-fashioned candy, Emery’s 5&10 was the choice to host Knoxville’s first Cash Mob.
     On Friday Feb. 10, hundreds of Knoxvillians stopped by the old hardware store to lend $5 and $10 and a smile or two. The crowd included celebrities such as Burchett and reporters from WBIR and WATE.
     “A lot of people say, 'I've been meaning to come here for a while and haven't done it...',” John Bevis, CEO of Disc Exchange, told WBIR. “This is a great opportunity to come out and see us again and try us and give us a shot again."
    More Cash Mobs are planned for other local businesses. Burchett has not yet released the list of potential businesses, but citizens have submitted their votes for places such as Disc Exchange and Frussie’s Deli.