Document:

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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10(a)

                       THIRD AMENDMENT TO LOAN AGREEMENT

         THIS THIRD AMENDMENT TO LOAN AGREEMENT ("Third Amendment") entered into
this 14 day of August, 2001, by and among J. ALEXANDER'S CORPORATION (f/k/a
VOLUNTEER CAPITAL CORPORATION), J. ALEXANDER'S RESTAURANTS, INC. (f/k/a TOTAL
QUALITY MANAGEMENT, INC.), Tennessee corporations (collectively referred to as
the "Borrower"), and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., SUCCESSOR TO NATIONSBANK, N.A.,
SUCCESSOR TO NATIONSBANK OF TENNESSEE, N.A., a national banking association
("Lender").

                              W I T N E S S E T H

         WHEREAS, Borrower and Lender entered into that certain Loan Agreement
dated August 29, 1995, as amended by that Amendment to Loan Agreement dated
March 27, 1998, and as further amended by that Second Amendment to Loan
Agreement dated March 30, 2000 ("Loan Agreement"); and

         WHEREAS, Volunteer Capital Corporation has changed its name to J.
Alexander's Corporation and Total Quality Management, Inc. has changed its name
to J. Alexander's Restaurants, Inc.; and

         WHEREAS, Borrower and Lender desire to amend the Loan Agreement as
provided herein; and

         NOW, THEREFORE, for the mutual promises contained herein and other good
and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

         1.       All capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the
meaning set forth in the Loan Agreement.

         2.       Section 1.c. of the Loan Agreement is hereby deleted in its
entirety and in lieu thereof shall read as follows:

                  "c.      Payments. Payment of all obligations arising under
         the Line of Credit shall be made as follows:

                           (1)      Interest. Interest on the outstanding
                  principal balance under the Line of Credit shall be paid in
                  arrears on the first (1st) day of each month beginning on
                  September 1, 2001.

                           (2)      Voluntary Prepayment. Voluntary prepayments
                  of principal or accrued interest may be made, in whole or in
                  part, at any time without penalty.

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                           (3)      Mandatory Prepayment. Borrower must
                  immediately prepay any amount by which the principal balance
                  of the Line of Credit exceeds $20,000,000.

                           (4)      All Amounts Due. All remaining principal,
                  interest and expenses outstanding under the Line of Credit
                  shall become due July 1, 2002, unless the borrower exercises
                  its option to extend for a seven (7) year term, in which case
                  all remaining principle, interest and expenses outstanding
                  under the Line of Credit shall become due July 1, 2009.

                           (5)      Conversion to Term Loan. Subject to the
                  provisions contained herein, Borrower has the option to
                  convert this Line of Credit Note to a Term Note. Providing
                  that Borrower is not then in default hereunder, Borrower may
                  make a written election to convert the Line of Credit Note to
                  a Term Note any time prior to July 1, 2002. The written
                  election must be delivered to Payee at least thirty (30) days
                  prior to the conversion date. After receipt of the election,
                  Payee has sole discretion to determine what collateral will be
                  required of Maker to provide security for the term loan. Payee
                  will notify Maker whether or in what manner the term loan
                  shall be securitized within fifteen (15) days after receiving
                  the election. Upon conversion, there will be a conversion fee
                  equal to one-quarter (1/4) of one percent (1%) of the then
                  outstanding principal balance. The unpaid principal balance
                  will then be repayable in eighty-four (84) equal monthly
                  installments of principal with the first principal payment due
                  thirty (30) days following the conversion date. Interest will
                  continue to be paid monthly at the same time as the principal
                  payment is due. Interest shall accrue on the Term Note at the
                  Bank of America, N.A. Prime Rate, as it may change from time
                  to time or the LIBOR Rate discussed above (subject to the
                  restriction on the number of LIBOR borrowings discussed above)
                  or at a fixed rate to be determined by Payee at the time of
                  receiving the written election. Maker shall specify the
                  interest rate option (Prime Rate, LIBOR Rate or fixed) to be
                  used in the conversion election."

         3.       Section 30.l of the Loan Agreement is hereby deleted in its
entirety and in lieu thereof shall read as follows:

                  "l.      Capital Expenditures. Make capital expenditures
         (including capitalized leases) during fiscal year 2001 and during each
         fiscal year thereafter exceeding, in the aggregate, $11,000,000.00 per
         fiscal year."

         4.       Section 30.c. of the Loan Agreement is hereby deleted in its
entirety and in lieu thereof shall read as follows:

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                  "c.      Stock Transactions. Redeem or agree to redeem any
         stock, subordinated debt, warrants, or debt securities convertible into
         stock; provided that, Borrower may (i) make an early redemption(s) of
         its outstanding convertible debentures up to $1,875,000.00 prior to
         June 1, 2002; and (ii) buy back up to a maximum of $2,000,000.00 of
         Borrower's currently issued and outstanding common stock."

         5.       Section 31.c. is hereby deleted in its entirety and in lieu
thereof shall read as follows:

                  "c.      Senior Funded Debt to EBITDA Ratio. Borrower shall
         maintain a Senior Funded Debt to EBITDA Ratio ("SDCR") of less than or
         equal to 2.75 to 1.00 at all times."

         6.       Section 31.e. is hereby deleted in its entirety and in lieu
thereof shall read as follows:

                  "e.      Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio. The Fixed Charge
         Coverage Ratio measured at the end of each fiscal quarter computed on a
         rolling four quarters basis shall be at least 1.25 to 1.00. For
         purposes hereof, the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is defined as: (net
         income plus depreciation and amortization plus interest expense plus
         rent expense minus dividends and distributions paid) divided by
         (interest expense plus rent expense plus current maturities of long
         term debt (as further described below) plus current maturities of
         capital leases). For purposes hereof, (i) with respect to Borrower's
         outstanding convertible debentures, this portion of Borrower's current
         maturities of long term debt shall be limited to Borrower's required
         $1,875,000.00 redemption for fiscal year 2002; and (ii) current
         maturities of long term debt shall not include any amounts outstanding
         under the Line of Credit Loan)."

         7.       Borrower shall pay all costs incidental to this Third
Amendment, including, but not limited to, the fees and expenses of Lender's
counsel.

         8.       Borrower warrants and represents that (a) the Loan Documents
are valid, binding and enforceable against the Borrower according to their
terms; (b) all warranties and representations made by Borrower in the Loan
Documents are hereby again warranted and represented to be true as of the date
hereof, except with regard to matters expressed only as of a specific time or
which have been supplemented or superseded by disclosures to Lender in writing
and (c) no default presently exists under the Loan Documents. Borrower further
acknowledges that Borrower's obligations evidenced by the Loan Documents are not
subject to any counterclaim, defense or right of set-off and Borrower does
hereby release Lender from any claim, known or unknown, that Borrower may have
against Lender as of the execution of this Third Amendment.

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         9.       As amended hereby, the Loan Agreement remains in full effect,
and all agreements among the parties with respect to the subject hereof are
represented fully in this Third Amendment and the other written documents among
the parties. The provisions of the Loan Agreement regarding the arbitration of
disputes and other general matters also govern this Third Amendment. The
validity, construction and enforcement hereof shall be determined according to
the substantive laws of the State of Tennessee.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this document through
authorized agents on the day and date first above written.

                            BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., SUCCESSOR TO
                            NATIONSBANK, N.A., SUCCESSOR TO
                            NATIONSBANK OF TENNESSEE, N.A.

                            By:             /s/ William H. Diehl
                                   ---------------------------------------------

                            Title:          Senior Vice President
                                   ---------------------------------------------

                            J. ALEXANDER'S CORPORATION
                            (f/k/a VOLUNTEER CAPITAL CORPORATION)

                            By:             /s/ R. Gregory Lewis
                                   ---------------------------------------------

                            Title: Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
                                   ---------------------------------------------

                            J. ALEXANDER'S RESTAURANTS, INC.
                            (f/k/a TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT, INC.)

                            By:             /s/ R. Gregory Lewis
                                   ---------------------------------------------

                            Title:          Vice President - Finance
                                   ---------------------------------------------

                                       4<PAGE>   1

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10(b)

                           RENEWAL LINE OF CREDIT NOTE

$20,000,000.00                Nashville, Tennessee               August 14, 2001

         FOR VALUE RECEIVED, J. ALEXANDER'S CORPORATION (f/k/a VOLUNTEER CAPITAL
CORPORATION) and J. ALEXANDER'S RESTAURANTS, INC. (f/k/a TOTAL QUALITY
MANAGEMENT, INC.), Tennessee corporations (the "Maker"), jointly and severally
promise to pay to the order of BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., SUCCESSOR TO NATIONSBANK,
N.A., SUCCESSOR TO NATIONSBANK OF TENNESSEE, N.A. ("Payee" or "Bank of
America"), the sum of Twenty Million and No/100 Dollars ($20,000,000.00), or as
much thereof as may be outstanding from time to time, together with interest
thereon as set forth below.

         This Note is a renewal of that certain Renewal Line of Credit Note
dated March 30, 2000 in the principal amount of $20,000,000.00 which was an
amendment and restatement of that certain Line of Credit Note dated March 27,
1998 from Maker to Payee in the amount of Twenty Million and No/100 Dollars
($20,000,000.00). Advances under this Note shall be governed by that certain
Loan Agreement dated August 29, 1995, as amended by that Amendment to Loan
Agreement dated March 27, 1998, as amended by that Second Amendment to Loan
Agreement dated March 30, 2000, and as further amended by that certain Third
Amendment to Loan Agreement of even date herewith ("Loan Agreement"). Subject to
the provisions of the Loan Agreement, Maker may borrow, repay and reborrow and
there is no limit on the number of advances against this Note as long as the
total unpaid principal balance at any time outstanding does not exceed Twenty
Million and No/100 Dollars ($20,000,000.00).

         From the date hereof until the stated maturity of this Note, interest
shall accrue at the LIBOR Rate plus a spread of 2.0%, 2.25%, 2.5% or 3.0%
depending on the Senior Debt Coverage Ratio ("SDCR") as further provided in the
Loan Agreement.

         From the date hereof until the stated maturity of this Note, a
non-usage fee of either .25%, .35% or .50% based upon the daily average unused
amount and based on the SDCR will be paid quarterly in arrears. If the SDCR is
less than or equal to 2.75 but greater than 2.5, the fee will be .50%; if the
SDCR is less than or equal to 2.5 but greater than 2.25, the fee will be .35%;
if the SDCR is less than or equal to 2.25, the fee will be .25%.

         Interest in arrears shall be due and payable on the first (1st) day of
each month beginning on September 1, 2001. All remaining principal and interest
shall become due on July 1, 2002 under the three year revolver, or July 1, 2009
if the option to convert to an additional seven (7) year term loan is exercised.

         Subject to the provisions contained herein, Maker has the option to
convert this Line of Credit Note to a Term Note. Providing that Borrower is not
then in default hereunder, Borrower may make a written election to convert the
Line of Credit Note to a Term Note any time prior to July 1, 2002. The written
election must be delivered to Payee at least thirty (30) days prior to the
conversion date. After

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receipt of the election, Payee has sole discretion to determine what collateral
will be required of Maker to provide security for the term loan. Payee will
notify Maker whether or in what manner the term loan shall be securitized within
fifteen (15) days after receiving the election. Upon conversion, there will be a
conversion fee equal to one-quarter (1/4) of one percent (1%) of the then
outstanding principal balance. The unpaid principal balance will then be
repayable in eighty-four (84) equal monthly installments of principal with the
first principal payment due thirty (30) days following the conversion date.
Interest will continue to be paid monthly at the same time as the principal
payment is due. Interest shall accrue on the Term Note at the Bank of America
Prime Rate, as it may change from time to time or the LIBOR Rate discussed above
or at a fixed rate to be determined by Payee at the time of receiving the
written election. Maker shall specify the interest rate option (Prime Rate,
LIBOR Rate or fixed) to be used in the conversion election.

         As used herein, the term "Bank of America Prime Rate" shall mean the
fluctuating rate of interest established by Bank of America from time to time as
its "Prime Rate", whether or not such rate shall be otherwise published. Such
Prime Rate is established by Bank of America as an index or base rate and may or
may not at any time be the best or lowest rate charged by Bank of America on any
loan. If at any time or from time to time the Prime Rate increases or decreases,
then the rate of interest hereunder shall be correspondingly increased or
decreased effective on the day on which any such increase or decrease of the
Prime Rate changes, unless otherwise herein provided. In the event that Bank of
America, during the term hereof, shall abolish or abandon the practice of
establishing a Prime Rate, or should the same become unascertainable, Bank of
America shall designate a comparable reference rate which shall be deemed to be
the Prime Rate for purposes hereof.

         For purposes hereof, the "LIBOR Rate" shall mean interest based on the
Eurodollar Daily Floating Rate. The Eurodollar Daily Floating Rate is a floating
rate of interest and will change on and as of the date of a change in the
Eurodollar Daily Floating Rate. The period of time during which the Eurodollar
Daily Floating Rate shall be applicable shall be a Eurodollar Daily Floating
Rate Interest Period. "Eurodollar Daily Floating Rate" shall mean the
fluctuating rate of interest equal to the rate of interest per annum (rounded
upwards, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100 of 1%) appearing on Telerate Page
3750 (or any successor page) as the one month London interbank offered rate for
deposits in Dollars at approximately 11:00 A.M. (London time) on the second
preceding Business Day, as adjusted from time to time in Bank's sole discretion
for then applicable reserve requirements, deposit insurance assessment rates and
other regulatory costs. If for any reason such rate is not available, the term
"Eurodollar Daily Floating Rate" shall mean the fluctuating rate of interest
equal to the rate of interest per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the
nearest 1/100 of 1%) appearing on Reuters Screen LIBO Page as the one month
London interbank offered rate for deposits in Dollars at approximately 11:00
A.M. (London time) on the second preceding Business Day, as adjusted from time
to time in Bank's sole discretion for then applicable reserve requirements,
deposit insurance assessment rates and other regulatory costs; provided,
however, if more than one rate is specified on Telerate Page 3750 or on Reuters
Screen LIBO Page, the applicable rate shall be the arithmetic mean of all rates
on that page.

         Interest hereunder shall be calculated based upon a 360 day year and
actual days elapsed. The interest rate required hereby shall not exceed the
maximum rate permissible under applicable law, and

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any amounts paid in excess of such rate shall be applied to reduce the principal
amount hereof or shall be refunded to Maker, at the option of the holder of this
Note.

         All amounts due under this Note are payable at par in lawful money of
the United States of America, at the principal place of business of Payee in
Nashville, Tennessee, or at such other address as the Payee or other holder
hereof (herein "Holder") may direct.

         Any payment not made within fifteen (15) days of its due date will be
subject to assessment of a late charge equal to five percent (5%) of such
payment. Holder's right to impose a late charge does not evidence a grace period
for the making of payments hereunder.

         The occurrence of any of the following shall constitute an event of
default under this Note: (a) the failure of Maker to timely pay any amount due
Holder under this Note or any other obligation to Holder if such failure
continues for ten (10) days after notice of nonpayment from Holder to Maker
provided, however, that should Holder give Maker a notice of nonpayment, then
for the twelve month period following such notice of nonpayment, Holder shall
not be required to give Maker notice of nonpayment and Maker will be in default
if it fails to make a monetary payment within ten (10) days of the due date; (b)
the institution of proceedings by Maker under any state insolvency law or under
any federal bankruptcy law; (c) the institution of proceedings against Maker
under any state insolvency law or under any federal bankruptcy law, if such
proceedings are not dismissed within sixty (60) days; (d) Maker's becoming
insolvent or generally failing to pay its debts as they become due; (e) the
discovery by Holder that Maker has made a material misrepresentation of
financial condition in any written statement made to any present or previous
Holder which remains uncured for thirty (30) days; (f) the instigation of legal
proceedings against Maker for the violation of a material criminal statute; (g)
the issuance of an attachment against property of Maker unless removed, by bond
or otherwise, within ten (10) days; (h) the entry of a judgment against Maker
that remains unsatisfied for thirty (30) days after execution may first issue;
(i) Maker's liquidation or cessation of business; (j) the occurrence of a
default under the terms of any loan agreement, security agreement, deed of
trust, or similar document to which Maker is a party or to which any property
securing this Note is subject which results in the acceleration of an
indebtedness of One Hundred Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($100,000.00) or more;
or (k) the occurrence of any of the foregoing with regard to any surety,
guarantor, endorser, or other person or entity primarily or secondarily liable
for the payment of the indebtedness evidenced by this Note.

         Upon the occurrence of an event of default, as defined above, Holder
may, at its option and without notice, terminate any obligation to advance funds
under this Note, declare all principal and interest provided for under this
Note, and any other obligations of Maker to Holder, to be presently due and
payable, and Holder may enforce any remedies available to Holder under any
documents securing or evidencing debts of Maker to Holder. Holder may waive any
default before or after it occurs and may restore this Note in full effect
without impairing the right to declare it due for a subsequent default, this
right being a continuing one. Upon default, at Holder's election, the remaining
unpaid principal balance of the indebtedness evidenced hereby and all expenses
due Holder shall bear interest at the interest rate in effect immediately before
the default plus three percent (3%).

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         All amounts received for payment of this Note shall be first applied to
any expenses due Holder under this Note or under any other documents evidencing
or securing obligations of Maker to Holder, then to accrued interest, and
finally to the reduction of principal. Prepayment of principal or accrued
interest may be made, in whole or in part, at any time without penalty. Any
prepayment(s) shall reduce the final payment(s) and shall not reduce or defer
installments next due.

         This Note may be freely transferred by Holder.

         Maker and all sureties, guarantors, endorsers and other parties to this
instrument hereby consent to any and all renewals, waivers, modifications, or
extensions of time (of any duration) that may be granted by Holder with respect
to this Note and severally waive demand, presentment, protest, notice of
dishonor, and all other notices that might otherwise be required by law. All
parties hereto waive the defense of impairment of collateral and all other
defenses of suretyship.

         Maker's performance under this Note is unsecured. There will be a
negative pledge on existing unencumbered assets, as further described in the
Loan Agreement.

         Maker and all sureties, guarantors, endorsers and other parties hereto
agree to pay reasonable attorneys' fees and all court and other costs that
Holder may incur in the course of efforts to collect the debt evidenced hereby
or to protect Holder's interest in any collateral securing the same.

         The validity and construction of this Note shall be determined
according to the laws of Tennessee applicable to contracts executed and
performed within that state. If any provision of this Note should for any reason
be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions hereof shall remain in
full effect.

         The provisions of this Note may be amended or waived only by instrument
in writing signed by the Holder and Maker and attached to this Note.

         Any controversy or claim between or among the parties to this Note or
any related loan or collateral agreements or instruments (collectively, "Loan
Documents"), including any claim based on or arising from an alleged tort, shall
be determined by binding arbitration in accordance with the Federal Arbitration
Act (or if not applicable, the applicable state law), the Rules of Practice and
Procedure for the arbitration of commercial disputes of Judicial Arbitration and
Mediation Services, Inc. (J.A.M.S.), and the "special rules" set forth below. In
the event of any inconsistency, the special rules shall control. Judgment upon
any arbitration award may be entered in any court having jurisdiction. Any party
to the Loan Documents may bring an action, including a summary or expedited
proceeding, to compel arbitration of any controversy or claim to which this
agreement applies in any court having jurisdiction over such action.

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         The following "Special Rules" shall apply. The arbitration shall be
conducted in Nashville, Tennessee and administered by J.A.M.S. who will appoint
an arbitrator; if J.A.M.S. is unable or legally precluded from administering the
arbitration, then the American Arbitration Association will serve. All
arbitration hearings will be commenced within 90 days of the demand for
arbitration; further, the arbitrator shall only, upon a showing of cause, be
permitted to extend the commencement of such hearing for up to an additional 60
days.

         Nothing in the foregoing arbitration shall be deemed to (i) limit the
applicability of any otherwise applicable statutes of limitation or repose and
any waivers contained in the Loan Documents; or (ii) be a waiver by Bank of
America of the protection afforded to it by 12 U.S.C. Sec. 91 or any
substantially equivalent state law; or (iii) limit the rights of Bank of America
under the Loan Documents (a) to exercise self help remedies such as (but not
limited to) set-off, or (b) to foreclose against any real or personal property
collateral, or (c) to obtain from a court provisional or ancillary remedies such
as (but not limited to) injunctive relief, possession of collateral or the
appointment of a receiver. Bank of America may exercise such self help rights,
foreclose upon such property, or obtain such provisional or ancillary remedies
before, during or after the pendency of any arbitration proceeding brought
pursuant to the Loan Documents. At Bank of America's option, foreclosure under a
deed of trust or mortgage may be accomplished by any of the following: the
exercise of a power of sale under the deed of trust or mortgage, or by judicial
sale under the deed of trust or mortgage, or by judicial foreclosure. Neither
this exercise or self help remedies nor the institution or maintenance of an
action for foreclosure or provisional or ancillary remedies shall constitute a
waiver of the right of any party, including the claimant in any such action, to
arbitrate the merits of the controversy or claim occasioning resort to such
remedies.

         Words used herein indicating gender or number shall be read as context
may require.

                           J. ALEXANDER'S CORPORATION
                           (f/k/a VOLUNTEER CAPITAL CORPORATION)

                           By:               /s/ R. Gregory Lewis
                              --------------------------------------------------

                           Title: Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
                                  ----------------------------------------------

                           J. ALEXANDER'S RESTAURANTS, INC.
                           (f/k/a TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT, INC.)

                           By:              /s/ R. Gregory Lewis
                              --------------------------------------------------

                           Title:         Vice President - Finance
                                 --------------------------------------------

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