At the request of Mayor Victor Ashe, UT investigated the possibility of opening a bookstore branch on the first floor of the UT Conference Center Building, across from the Knoxville Convention Center. The store was opened in fall 2002, selling UT merchandise, books, magazines, and school and office supplies. The store opened on home football game Saturdays and cooperated with the UT Press in offering book-signing events. The first manager of the branch store was Rebecca Hicks.