Apex Bank buys downtown Knoxville's Riverview Tower for $44M

The distinctive green glass office building dates back to the mid-1980s and was previously owned by Hertz Investment Group.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 12:54am

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A photorealistic studio still life featuring a polished, geometric model of the Riverview Tower office building, floating elegantly on a clean, monochromatic background with dramatic lighting and deep shadows, conceptually representing the abstract business and real estate dynamics behind the tower's sale.The sale of the iconic Riverview Tower in downtown Knoxville to Apex Bank signals broader investment and economic trends in the city's central business district.Knoxville Today

Apex Bank has purchased the 24-story Riverview Tower in downtown Knoxville, Tennessee for $44 million. The building, known for its distinctive green glass exterior, was previously owned by Hertz Investment Group, which acquired it in 2013. The sale was not unexpected, as the property was listed for sale in December 2025 by SVN/Wood Properties.

Why it matters

The Riverview Tower is one of the premier office buildings in downtown Knoxville, with around 335,000 square feet of space. Its sale to Apex Bank represents a significant real estate transaction in the city's central business district, potentially signaling broader economic trends and investment activity.

The details

The Riverview Tower was built in the mid-1980s by banker C.H. Butcher Jr. It features floor-to-ceiling windows and is located just across the street from downtown Knoxville's tallest building, the 27-story Plaza Tower, which was built more than 40 years ago by Butcher's brother, Jake. The Butcher brothers were both bankers who faced scrutiny and legal troubles for their business dealings, with both ultimately serving prison time for financial crimes.

  • The Riverview Tower was built in the mid-1980s.
  • Hertz Investment Group acquired the building in 2013.
  • The property was listed for sale in December 2025.
  • The sale to Apex Bank was completed on April 8, 2026.

The players

Apex Bank

A financial institution that has purchased the Riverview Tower office building in downtown Knoxville.

Hertz Investment Group

The previous owner of the Riverview Tower, which acquired the building in 2013.

C.H. Butcher Jr.

The banker who originally built the Riverview Tower in the mid-1980s.

Jake Butcher

The brother of C.H. Butcher Jr., who built the nearby Plaza Tower in downtown Knoxville more than 40 years ago.

SVN/Wood Properties

The real estate firm that listed the Riverview Tower for sale in December 2025.

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The takeaway

The sale of the Riverview Tower to Apex Bank represents a significant real estate transaction in Knoxville's downtown, potentially signaling broader economic trends and investment activity in the city's central business district. The building's history, with its connections to the Butcher brothers and their financial troubles, also provides an interesting backdrop to this latest chapter in the tower's story.