WJHL TV News Channel 11 in East Tennessee is reporting on a serious controversy that has embroiled Tennessee’s oldest city. Those who have visited  Downtown Jonesborough in the last several years may have noticed a two-foot-tall Jedi Master Yoda outside of The Lollipop Shop candy store. Yoda hasn’t bothered anybody, until now, when two complaints to the tiny city have people arguing whether that is sufficient to spur official action. Thus far, the controversy hasn’t risen to the level of being dubbed Yoda-gate…yet.

Jeff Gurley is the owner of The Lollipop Shop and the Yoda statue. He said he’s been told by the town’s building inspector that Yoda has to be brought inside the store, permanently.

I was told they’ve gotten complaints, and I said, ‘How many?’ And he said, ‘two,’” Gurley told News Channel 11 this week. “And I said, ‘That’s pretty good for him being out there for two years and four months.’”

Gurley said he was not told when exactly, or how far apart, the complaints were made. Still outside the store, Yoda is now holding a small sign reading, “Save Yoda.”

“I placed a sign on Yoda, as someone who doesn’t even do social media, I put a sign on Yoda that says, ‘Save Yoda! Two people complained and want me inside.’ Someone took a picture of it, and then the rest is save Yoda history, I guess.”

A petition to keep Yoda outside was started by Gurley’s friend, Linda Morrin.

“It was just so unfair for people to complain,” Morrin told News Channel 11. “I spend a lot of time in the store … everybody that comes by, they’re taking pictures of it, whether or not they come into the store.”

Gurley claims the statue was approved by the city’s Historic Zoning Commission two years ago, although there’s no record of it on past agendas. Gurley says an agenda item was listed at the meeting as “approval for awnings and paint” at The Lollipop Shop when a commission member brought up the Yoda statue, and Gurley said the commission approved the statue then.

“He was purchased, and I brought him here for the May the Fourth Star Wars festival,” Gurley said. “He was an instant success, so he stayed outside. In the same year, 2023, two years ago, he was approved with our Historic Zoning Commission, which has always been great to work with.”

The current commissioner of the Historical Zoning Commission told  News Channel 11 he isn’t able to verify Gurley’s claim. A former member who was on the Historical Zoning Commission in 2023 also said he was not able to verify the claim. The Jonesborough town commissioner is reportedly investigating the issue.

Gurley said he stands by what he says about the Historic Zoning Commission approving the Yoda statue two years ago; however, he also admitted he does not have an outdoor use permit for Yoda, nor does he intend to apply for one.

On Tuesday, the city responded to the Yoda dispute with a social media post on the Town’s page, stating that they are working through a process that may save Yoda and will provide updates. 

Gurley added he does not have an issue with the Town of Jonesborough or the Historical Zoning Commission, but that he hopes Yoda will have a place in Tennessee’s Oldest Town for years. Hopefully, Yoda will live long and prosper in downtown Jonesborough. Oops, wrong universe. 

Steve Gill is Publisher of TriStar Daily and is actually more of a Trekkie, but still very pro-Yoda.