Pearl to open jewelry store

KNOXVILLE, TN — Looking to capitalize on his local stardom and already thinking about life after basketball, Tennessee Volunteer head basketball coach Bruce Pearl announced today he plans on opening a jewelry store in downtown Knoxville.

Pearl said he is confident he will spend the rest of his career coaching for Tennessee, and that now is as good a time as any to become a permanent part of downtown Knoxville. He added that, at least in the beginning, the store will be entirely owned and operated by the Pearl family.

“Very little has been decided so far, but we are committed to doing this,” Pearl said. “My two beautiful daughters, Jacqui and Leah, are both necklace fanatics, so right now we’re thinking we’ll specialize in those and call the store ‘Pearl’s Necklaces’. That’s all I can really reveal to you at this time.”

Pearl did add that investors have been reluctant to go into business with the Vols coach, presumably because of the proposed name. But Pearl is set on the name, because “it works on so many different levels. People love pearl necklaces, and Pearl just happens to be my last name – get it?”

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An official with the Knoxville city planning department confirmed that Pearl has already put in bids for two lots. One is the vacant lot on 13^th Street next to Mikey’s Adult Bookstore, and the other is on University Drive in the building once occupied by the now-closed Big Dick’s Movies.

It has been rumored that Pearl will also use his connections with sports celebrities to attract attention to the store. One report even had Erin Andrews modeling a pearl necklace in an advertisement for the store.

“I can’t speak to those rumors right now,” Pearl said. “Lord knows I’d love to see Erin in a pearl necklace, but those discussions have not even taken place yet. I am quite sure I will ask her, though.”

Similar reports have had fellow Tennessee coach Pat Summitt modeling one of Pearl’s necklaces, though he would not confirm or deny those rumors either.