Cinco de Mayo to Take over Old Mad Donna’s Space
The locally based Mexican restaurant chain Cinco de Mayo is slated to open a location in the Five Points neighborhood at 1313A Woodland St., an address that was once home to the popular brunch destination Mad Donna’s.
“They will be moving from their Cummins Station location and can’t wait to open in East Nashville,” says Liz Gatlin, owner of locally based architecture and real estate firm Southern Athena, who handled the leasing of the Woodland Street building.
Before Mad Donna’s, the two-story, stone building housed Radio Cafe which opened in the mid-’90s. The restaurant portion closed in September 2001, and the building sold in 2007. (Radio Cafe has reopened at 4150 Gallatin Pike.)
Following an extensive renovation, Mad Donna’s opened in 2008. The brunch favorite had a good run but closed its doors without public notice in December 2016.
The short-lived Wylee’s Café & Bar eventually took over the space. The transition was filmed as part of a reality television series plot involving Bar Rescue personality Jon Taffer and singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow. Wylee’s closed just two months after opening, and the building has remained empty, until now.
“They should be open before June if all goes well,” says Gatlin. “They’re completing renovations to the building to get it up and running quickly and have already applied for permits. The side patio is also going to be opened up to become a more inviting, vibrant outdoor space.”
Cinco de Mayo operates five restaurants in Davidson County and one each in Rutherford and Wilson counties.
“We liked this concept for the property because it’s locally owned and has a strong proven track record,” says Gatlin. “The longer-term lease means no more turn over in this beautiful building. Thank goodness it will finally get the love it deserves.”
Real Handy Pro, LLC will handle the build-out of the space. A Cottontown, Tennessee-based entity acquired it in March 2018 for $1.35 million, reports the Nashville Post.
“This deal took a lot of love and work,” Gatlin explains. “Restaurants have a 50 percent failure rate, and we were concerned that, though many of the potential tenants considered for the space had great concepts, they didn’t have the needed systems, staff, or financials to ensure their success.”
“We were thrilled to procure Cinco de Mayo for the building and love that they will become a permanent part of the community for years to come,” says Gatlin.
Cilantro Mexican Grill to Open in Five Points
The building that was once home to Five Points Cocina Mexicana located at 972 Main St. is now occupied by the owners of Cilantro Mexican Grill.
According to the Nashville Post, the owners of Cilantro have purchased the equipment and lease for Five Points Cocina for an undisclosed sum. Remodeling of the interior and outdoor patio has begun, and the new tenants plan on remaining open during renovation.
The new location will be called Cilantro Mexican Grill at Five Points, and the Nashville Post reports that upgrades to the building should be finished in early April.
Delgado Guitars Expands
Delgado Guitars is a family-owned business with history dating back to 1928. They build over 45 different hand-made custom string instruments and also handle repair and restoration work.
Old-world luthier Manuel Delgado opened Delgado Guitars in East Nashville in 2005 and is now expanding his business to include his neighboring space located at 919 Gallatin Ave. Ste. 9.
The original idea for expansion stemmed from the need for more space in their current location but quickly grew into something bigger.
“I always try to figure out a way to do things where we can also be conscious of the community,” says Delgado. “A few months back I was at a record release party for Eric Brace, Peter Cooper, and Thomm Jutz at the Station Inn, and I ended up sitting next to a friend of mine, Gina Frary-Bacon. She was telling me about the challenges she’s been having because she’s had a radio show for some time called The Sit Down, and they kind of lost their home. She’s been trying to find a place to host the show, and I said, ‘Well you know what, maybe one of these days God will bless me and give me a building where I can have a storefront, and we can do your radio show from there.’”
That conversation took place just a few months ago and, by January, Delgado found the new space.
“Originally, we were going to have the downstairs area be more of a storefront where we’d have our instruments hanging, a couple of rooms in the back where we’d offer music lessons, and give Gina a home where she could broadcast her radio show from once a week in the evenings,” says Delgado. “Then it started morphing into more. Now we’re putting a stage in there, which Maker’s Mark is helping us with the building and wrapping of the stage, and we’re going to host writers’ rounds, album releases, showcases, and more.”
As the building currently sits, it’s approximately 1,000 square feet. Delgado is adding a second floor and building out some music rooms in the back of the first floor. By the time renovation is done Delgado estimates the space will be closer to 1,700 square feet.
All renovations are to be completed in the next few months, and Delgado plans on throwing a party or grand opening early this summer.
“Really the focus is to try and do something mainly for the community,” says Delgado. “The goal isn’t ‘how do we do something and make a lot of money,’ that’s always secondary. Our way of doing things, even with our guitars or our repair work, is always, ‘How can we take care of our client, how can we make sure they feel like they’re getting the most service out of us?’ Then from that, we hope our clients feel confident enough to send us business and return work. It’s always customer service first, and then the business grows.”
The new space will be called The Music Makers’ Stage at Delgado Guitars. Business hours for the music store area will be 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday – Friday. The building itself will be open in the evenings to host writers’ rounds, Frary-Bacon’s radio show, “The Sit Down,” and more. For updates visit Delgado Guitars’ website or follow them on Facebook.
Hugh Baby’s to Open in Hunters Station
Hugh Baby’s BBQ and Burger Shop, known for their simple Tennessee- and Mississippi-roots inspired menu, is slated to set up shop in Fresh Hospitality’s soon-to-open Hunters Station food court located at 975 Main St.
A permit, valued at $184,200, has been issued to allow for the build-out of the approximately 860-square-foot space. Nashville-based Biscan Construction is handling general contracting work, and Pittsburgh-based Strada Architecture and Nashville-based Remick Moore Architect have been enlisted for design work, reports the Nashville Post.
Owned by Pat Martin of Martin’s Bar-B-Que, this location — in the up-and-coming Maxwell neighborhood — will mark the fourth Hugh Baby’s, joining the original spot at 4101 Charlotte Ave., the 3001 West End Ave. location, and the brand-new spot in Berry Hill.
Kendell Marvel with Elizabeth Cook and Chris Shiflett at The Basement East
Award-winning singer-songwriter Kendell Marvel is playing a show at The Basement East on Sunday, March 3 with songstress and satellite-radio, disc-jockey queen Elizabeth Cook (check out our feature on Cook) and Chris Shiflett of the Foo Fighters.
Marvel, a veteran songwriter who’s logged over two decades in Nashville, has penned hits for Chris Stapleton, George Strait, Brothers Osborne, Jamey Johnson, Gary Allan, and more.
In 2017 he released his solo debut album, Lowdown & Lonesome, a concept album that blends his musical down-home country and rock ‘n’ roll roots.
In addition to the acoustic tour with Cook and Shiflett, Marvel will also be joining Chris Stapleton’s tour this fall. For a list of all Marvel’s tour dates and additional info please visit his website. For tickets to The Basement East show click here.
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Adoption Fund Concert Fundraiser
Good Wood is hosting a concert fundraiser for the new nonprofit organization The Adoption Fund this Saturday, March 2 at their new location on Dickerson Pike.
The Adoption Fund is a locally administered fund that financially assists those in the adoption process. It was recently founded by board members Eric Quiram, Elder of City Church and a parent of three adopted children; Connie Dunlop, the adoption and orphan care coordinator at Fellowship Bible Church in Brentwood; and Rick Puncochar, elder emeritus at City Church of East Nashville.
“With the average cost of $30,000 for the adoption process, it can be out of reach for many who otherwise financially have the means to raise children and enter into the responsibility of providing for someone other than themselves,” says Puncochar. “We’ve got several families at our church that have adopted. The amount of emotional capital that’s spent as well as the financial side is brutal.”
There are currently two families designated to receive a gift; both families recently adopted and have remaining debt.
The fundraiser is a grassroots effort to help raise awareness for the nonprofit and adopting parents, and 100 percent of the proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to the fund. The event will provide music by Porter Road Revival featuring Kenny Meeks and the BlackJack Sisters, Neal Carpenter, and Taylor Sorenson and The Trigger Code.
There will also be a silent auction with a great variety of prizes, including three- and seven-day stays at a lake house on Lake Barkley or a beach house in Rosemary Beach, tickets to the symphony, Good Wood gift certificates, and more.
The Adoption Fund’s first ever fundraiser is off to a good start. They’ve sold out of all dinner and open-bar tickets, but are offering The East Nashvillian ticket special! On Friday, March 1, the first 20 people to purchase a ticket from the Eventbrite page have the opportunity to buy a $35 ticket that will include a night full of music and open bar.
“Although this will help those in our immediate community, it can go beyond our community,” Puncochar explains. “At this time, we do not know if this is a one-time event that will end when the monies from this event are distributed, if it will be folded into an existing service, or if it will actually develop into its own 501(c)3 nonprofit and grow.”
“This opportunity to raise awareness and support has been a real joy for those of us who have been involved to this point,” he continues. “We take the fiduciary responsibility very seriously and are humbled by the generosity that we’ve seen already both from those underwriting the cost of the event as well as those who have bought tickets.”
Please click here for more information or to purchase tickets.
East Nashville Community Health Fair
Holy Name Catholic Church is hosting a community health fair on Sunday, March 10, from 2-4 p.m. in their parish center, Strobel Hall, located at 508 Main St.
March 10 is daylight savings time, so the theme is fittingly “spring forward to happy health.”
The event is open and free to the public, as well as to participants. “We’re asking local nurses, doctors, nutritionists, and personal trainers, as well as East Nashville organizations and businesses to participate,” says Elizabeth Fielding, outreach coordinator for Holy Name Catholic Church.
Vendors participating in the health fair include: The Red Cross, Calypso Café, Urgent Team Family & Urgent Care, East Park Community Center, Be Well Nashville, BenchMark Physical Therapy, Dr. Diane Mcdermott, MD, Dr. Andrew Burd, Chiropractor, The Wild Cow, Metro Nashville Public Works, Turnip Green Creative Reuse, BlossOMing Yoga, East End Chiropractic, Scott-Ellis School of Irish Dance, Tennessee Interfaith Power & Light, Metro Nashville Police, Neighbor2Neighbor, Meharry Medical Center, Walk Bike Nashville, Riverside Village Pharmacy, Together Our Mission, American Lung Association, Nashville Connector, and The Urban Juicer.
“In addition, we’re inviting other health clinics, herbalists, yoga studios, food places, and more to come and participate as well. This is about health in all forms – mental, physical, and emotional; and not just human health — pets too,” says Fielding.
Participation in the event includes hosting a booth at the health fair and representing your organization. Fielding states they will provide the tables and table cloths for each vendor.
“The goals of this community gathering are to bring people together, provide resources to them, and hopefully inspire people to live healthier in 2019,” says Fielding.
Holy Name Catholic Church plans to do four different community gatherings a year; the health fair is their first one.
If you’re interested in participating in the health fair please email Elizabeth Fielding.
Turnip Truck Wins National Grocer Award
East Nashville’s local organic grocer, the Turnip Truck, has been recognized as one of the nation’s best by Progressive Grocer, a leading industry publication.
In its seventh-annual Outstanding Independents Awards, the publication recognized retailers for excellence in operations, offerings, and community connections. Turnip Truck was one of just two grocers in the nation lauded for excellence in produce.
Turnip Truck holds to meticulous standards when sourcing and purchasing their produce. Approximately 90-95 percent of the store’s produce is organic.
“It’s such an honor to be recognized among our outstanding peers nationally,” Turnip Truck founder/owner John Dyke says in an official Turnip Truck press release. “We are unwavering in our commitment to bring the finest produce available to our community. It’s everything to us.”
Through the years, Turnip Truck has invested considerable time and resources into building relationships with local growers and producers, nurturing the sources that ultimately resulted in this award.
The Turnip Truck currently has locations in East Nashville and the Gulch and is slated to open a Charlotte Avenue location sometime this year.
Turnip Green Creative Reuse Moves Locations
Turnip Green Creative Reuse located at 945 Woodland St. in the Five Points neighborhood is relocating to 407 Houston St. in the Wedgewood Houston area this week.
This unique non-profit reuse store is designed to divert usable material from our landfills for creative endeavors through innovative programming, retail, and community education.
Turnip Green has been in business since 2011 and has spent the last two years at the Woodland Street location.
“We always knew there was a possibility of the building selling and us having to move out, so we were mentally prepared in that sense,” says Leah Sherry, executive director for Turnip Green Creative Reuse. “However, once it actually happened, we were given less than six months warning to find a new home,” Sherry explains.
Sherry also stated that they’re unaware of what’s happening with the current building on Woodland Street.
Almost a year ago Sherry and her board started searching for a spot to buy for its programs and sales. “Turnip Green Creative Reuse has a very active board, staff, and volunteer base, which allows us to have engaged and helpful committees – one of them being our building committee,” says Sherry. “Our goal for quite some time has been to invest in our future by owning a building rather than leasing, so our building committee hit it hard last year working with realtors and property managers to explore buildings all over the city. We met regularly, especially when we received word we had to be out of our Woodland Street location.”
On the hunt for a new location Sherry stated the key factors included sticking to their mission by finding a building that was being reused or sustainable in some sense, that the area was accessible to all their members and supporters, and that it met the staff and customers’ needs such as more space and exposure to a creative district. The new location offers 4,500 square feet of space and is close to several galleries. “It was a natural fit,” says Sherry. “We will miss our [East Nashville] home, but we’ll still have our Green Gallery at Eastside Station at 803 Woodland St., so we’ll definitely still be a part of the amazing things happening in East!”
The Woodland Street store closed Feb. 28 and the new location will reopen on Houston Street at noon on March 2.
