Nashville food and beverage scene

[markhollin]

12 hours ago, e-dub said:

Arnold's last week will be next week

It will be reopening in a new, undisclosed  location in 2023.

[markhollin]

NBJ with round-up of announcements regarding new eateries/bars:

https://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2023/01/10/restaurant-roundup-taco-mamacity-announces-germant.html

[jmtunafish]

In-N-Out Burger is coming to Tennessee.

The California-based burger restaurant will open their first corporate hub in the eastern United States in Franklin, Gov. Bill Lee said during a press availability Tuesday.

Lee did not say when the first restaurant might open or how many there would be but assured that Tennesseans would get to have "a double double, fries and shakes right here in the great state of Tennessee."

https://www.tennessean.com/story/money/2023/01/10/in-n-out-coming-to-franklin-tennessee-new-corporate-hub-restaurants/69794851007/?fbclid=IwAR18i2zJE6jVEWvItzTalbTPjemYtoMGyXKLdl6u2_qk9APhW7bWOVRAFVw

[BnaBreaker]

Personally, I think In N Out is insanely overrated, BUT it is admittedly a pretty huge deal that they chose Nashville to be their first location in the eastern half of the country, so I'm glad to hear it!

[UrbanWes03]

7 minutes ago, BnaBreaker said:

Personally, I think In N Out is insanely overrated, BUT it is admittedly a pretty huge deal that they chose Nashville to be their first location in the eastern half of the country, so I'm glad to hear it!

This and Dutch Bros just blow my mind that they’re in the southeast now, especially because they chose TN as their first state for expansion! I think it just really shows how many people have moved here from the west coast IMO, because it is literally bringing brands from there to here. It’s also great to see that these kinds of moves are happening to Nashville first over larger markets around like ATL or Charlotte. 

[Deepdish53]

You have to think that part of what went into Nashville being chosen as their next hub (as opposed to Atlanta or Charlotte) is geography and how close they are to much of the midwest and south. Part of the reason In-N-Out has never expanded past their west coast and Texas/Colorado locations is they refuse to put stores any further than ~800 miles from their distribution hubs - any further than that and they're unable to guarantee their food to be as fresh as it is. They didn't have any presence in Texas until they opened a Dallas distribution center about a decade ago.

Setting up shop in Nashville means they can open up locations all through the central and eastern United States, even if they still can't reach places like the northeast.

Edited January 10, 2023 by Deepdish53

[NashRugger]

37 minutes ago, Deepdish53 said:

You have to think that part of what went into Nashville being chosen as their next hub (as opposed to Atlanta or Charlotte) is geography and how close they are to much of the midwest and south. Part of the reason In-N-Out has never expanded past their west coast and Texas/Colorado locations is they refuse to put stores any further than ~800 miles from their distribution hubs - any further than that and they're unable to guarantee their food to be as fresh as it is. They didn't have any presence in Texas until they opened a Dallas distribution center about a decade ago.

Setting up shop in Nashville means they can open up locations all through the central and eastern United States, even if they still can't reach places like the northeast.

Completely agree here with the geographic advantage to a larger area versus Atlanta or Charlotte, and likely lower cost to get a significant operation started being so far removed from the current edge of the market and lower tax impact in TN versus GA or NC. 

[tragenvol]

7 hours ago, jmtunafish said:

did not say when the first restaurant might open or how many there would be but assured that Tennesseans would get to have "a double double, fries and shakes right here in the great state of Tennessee."

 

2026ish and a few.

[Binbin98]

Nashville just needs a halal bros and then there is every chain restaurant there that I like. 

[donNdonelson2]

1 hour ago, Binbin98 said:

Nashville just needs a halal bros and then there is every chain restaurant there that I like. 

There was a Halal Bros in Bellevue for a while…or am I imagining things?

[jmtunafish]

14 minutes ago, donNdonelson2 said:

There was a Halal Bros in Bellevue for a while…or am I imagining things?

The only Halal Bros locations I can find are all in Austin TX. 

https://thehalalbros.com/

There's another chain called Halal Guys that has locations in Florida and others as close as Atlanta.

https://thehalalguys.com/locations/locations-list/countries/us/

Nashville has a surprisingly large number of Halal restaurants, thanks largely to the Kurdish community.  Even in my little Cookeville there's a wonderful Halal restaurant run by some guys from Yemen.  It's one of my favorite places, and their menu is almost identical to Halal Guys.

https://greenlifesmoothiessalad.business.site/

[donNdonelson2]

8 minutes ago, jmtunafish said:

The only Halal Bros locations I can find are all in Austin TX. 

https://thehalalbros.com/

There's another chain called Halal Guys that has locations in Florida and others as close as Atlanta.

https://thehalalguys.com/locations/locations-list/countries/us/

Nashville has a surprisingly large number of Halal restaurants, thanks largely to the Kurdish community.  Even in my little Cookeville there's a wonderful Halal restaurant run by some guys from Yemen.  It's one of my favorite places, and their menu is almost identical to Halal Guys.

https://greenlifesmoothiessalad.business.site/

Yes, it was Halal Guys in Bellevue. Didn’t last too long.

[go_outside]

13 hours ago, donNdonelson2 said:

Yes, it was Halal Guys in Bellevue. Didn’t last too long.

I met the owner who bought the franchise rights for all of Tennessee. He opened his first location in One Bellevue Place but—largely because it was one of the first things to open in that development—it never took off. I think if the hotel or ice center had been open at the time, it could have made it. I'm still sad about it; the food was great and a bit different than the other gyro places around Bellevue.

He also planned to open another location on Charlotte (in the building with Otaku Ramen and Another Broken Egg Cafe, 4109 Charlotte Ave). They were partway through the build out when he ran out of money and pulled the plug.

[bnacincy]

Downtown I think would have been a much better option-particularly in or near the Arcade once that is redeveloped.

Plenty of Gyro carts in and around downtown and Lower Broadway attest to the popularity of Middle Eastern/Mediterranean food.

[Binbin98]

On 1/11/2023 at 7:22 PM, jmtunafish said:

The only Halal Bros locations I can find are all in Austin TX. 

https://thehalalbros.com/

There's another chain called Halal Guys that has locations in Florida and others as close as Atlanta.

https://thehalalguys.com/locations/locations-list/countries/us/

Nashville has a surprisingly large number of Halal restaurants, thanks largely to the Kurdish community.  Even in my little Cookeville there's a wonderful Halal restaurant run by some guys from Yemen.  It's one of my favorite places, and their menu is almost identical to Halal Guys.

https://greenlifesmoothiessalad.business.site/

My bad I meant halal guys

[markhollin]

From NASHtoday:

The semifinalists were announced for the 2023 James Beard Awards — aka the Oscars of the culinary world — and Nashville stars are shining bright.

You’ll find five local semifinalists in the running for the profession’s most prestigious honors.

Mark your calendar for Wednesday, March 29, when the list will be narrowed down to finalists. Winners will be announced Monday, June 5 at a ceremony in Chicago.

2023 semifinalists

Clinton Gray, Derrick Moore, and Emanuel Reed, Slim & Husky’s Pizza Beeria | Nominated for Outstanding Restaurateur

• The team behind Slim & Husky’s — three friends and Tennessee State University grads — opened the first location in 2017. Now, the restaurant serves signature artisan pizzas in multiple states. Plan your next pizza night.

Julio Hernandez, Maiz de la Vida | Nominated for Emerging Chef

• Maiz de la Vida started small with a food truck and pop-up, but as Nashville’s love for Hernandez’s homemade tortillas grew, so did the chef’s plans for his concept. Maiz de la Vida Tortilla Shop opened last year, where dishes like birria ramen, chilaquiles, and empanadas await. A new brick-and-mortar location is coming soon to Paseo South Gulch.

Noelle Marchetti, Yolan | Nominated for Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker

• As Yolan’s executive pastry chef, Marchetti oversees all pastries and desserts made at the Italian restaurant and other hotel concepts. Check out Marchetti’s popular focaccia recipe, served tableside at Yolan.

Josh Habiger, Bastion | Nominated for Best Chef: Southeast

• Habiger is no stranger to the James Beard Awards, having been named a semifinalist in this category in 2018, 2019, and 2020. The 24-seat restaurant in Wedgewood-Houston is open for dinner Wednesday-Saturday (the bar is open nightly) — psst, reservations are still available for February seatings.

Trevor Moran, Locust | Nominated for Best Chef: Southeast

• It’s been accolade after accolade for Moran’s 12 South restaurantsince it opened in late 2020. Last fall, Locust landed on the New York Times’ list of 50 favorite restaurants in 2022 and was named Food & Wine Magazine’s “Restaurant of the Year.”

[markhollin]

A couple new announcements:

1) Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii will open a new location at 1608 21st Ave. South in the Village 21 complex.  The location was formerly occupied by Mountain High Outfitters.  Perfect Construction and Plumbing will serve as the general contractor.

More behind the Nashville Post paywall here:

https://www.nashvillepost.com/business/retail/cafe-chain-slated-for-hillsboro-village/article_357a31be-d87f-11ed-8c8a-37fa6a82a68d.html


2) Shotgun Willie's will relocate from 4000 Gallatin Pike to 1500 Gallatin Pike in September.

The new location, near Eastside Bowl, is around double the size of the original location, which will be used as a catering kitchen. The expansion allows for more seating, a larger outdoor Ranch at Shotgun Willie’s and a 1000-gallon Primitive Pits smoker. 

Guests can expect an expanded menu, live music, cookouts and events at Shotgun Willie’s Madison location.

More at NBJ here:

https://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2023/04/11/shotgun-willies-bbq-expands-to-larger-location.html

[Flatrock]

Some national recognition and love for NOKO restaurant in East Nashville.

https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/nashville/nashville-restaurant-named-among-best-in-country-on-opentables-top-100-list/

[WebberThomas4]

13 hours ago, Flatrock said:

Some national recognition and love for NOKO restaurant in East Nashville.

https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/nashville/nashville-restaurant-named-among-best-in-country-on-opentables-top-100-list/

Haven’t been yet, but that guy is out there every morning at 7 and it smells amazing

[markhollin]

Zaid Elia isn’t just bullish on Nashville because of its growth. 

For him, it’s also the energy, the “vibrancy” of Music City that is making him look to open eight to ten hospitality projects in Nashville.

Elia is the CEO and founder of Michigan-based, experience-driven Elia Group, opening its first Nashville restaurant later this year.

“Every time you walk into [Nashville], you feel the energy. You see people enjoying themselves and especially after Covid-19, the experience-driven restaurant concept is a perfect place for Nashville,” Elia told the Business Journal.

Elia Group has deals on Broadway, is looking at some places in the Gulch and is interested in Wedgewood-Houston. 

Nashville’s first introduction to Elia Group will be through Experience Zuzu, opening in nearly 9,800 square feet of space at 215 First Ave. S., last home to The Green Pheasant.

More at NBJ here:

https://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2024/04/02/michigan-elia-group-restaurants-downtown-expansion.html

[markhollin]

Detroit-based real estate and hospitality group Elia announced big plans this week: It will acquire and open 10 restaurants and bars in Nashville over the course of the next three years.

The company will start with The Valentine, a four-story Lower Broadway bar, restaurant and music venue to replace a boot shop, and a new location for upscale Detroit favorite Zuzu, an Asian restaurant and bar.

"Elia started close to 20 years ago, and we've been building and growing out team for this moment," CEO and founder Zaid Elia said. "Ten is a number, but for us, it's a commitment to a community that we can hopefully enhance."

He said the company will direct its initial focus to downtown and grow outward "like a spider web."

The plan is a lofty one, and while Elia said he can't put an exact number on the total investment yet, he's expecting the projects to cost well over $25 million. He said the sweeping three-year plan is a way for him and his company to demonstrate that they're "all in" on Nashville.

The other fully-fledged Nashville project is a new location of Zuzu, an elevated Asian-influenced restaurant and bar. Its flagship is in downtown Detroit, and Elia announced in March that the Nashville location will open later this year on First Avenue South.

After that, at least eight more Elia restaurants and bars are on their way. The company's CEO said two more properties are close to being finalized and may be announced this summer.

More at The Tennessean here:

https://www.tennessean.com/story/money/2024/05/13/nashville-restaurants-nashville-bars-developer-elia-plans-open-multiple-2027/73639885007/