What’s Old is New Again
Here are three #Nashville locales that have been around forever – except perhaps in a different format. Now, get ready to revisit these Nashville sites and to enjoy something completely different.
The first, oldest spot is Acme. To be specific, I can guarantee you’ve walked near Acme Farm Supply, the familiar red-and-white checkerboard building at 101 Broadway, the corner building before the river. It’s been there since 1890, but its primary identity throughout a good portion of the 20th century was as a feed and supply store that sold all things agricultural: onion sets and seeds, overalls, animal chow, baby ducks and chickens. Did your parents take you there near Easter to get a pet rabbit, maybe?
Acme will be reborn as a Southern favorites restaurant (covering two floors) and event space. Their menu is already online: seasoned fried pork, catfish, country-fried chicken, collards, mac and cheese, and sweet potato fries. The event space will be no-brainer as a place to shoot videos for up-and-coming artists. With its view of the river, Acme blends Nashville’s more laid-back history with its dynamic and innovative future. See http://theacmenashville.com/.
Back in the 1970s, you surely went to #Exit In on Elliston Place, the site portrayed in the original Robert Altman Nashville movie, and the site of countless hours of live music. A lesser-known neighbor of Exit In was the #Hurry Back market, a quick stop for minor groceries and cigarettes for nearby college students.
That small market has been reborn as Hurry Back, a beer drinker’s go-to place. The menu sports over 30 beers on draft (from Birmingham, British Columbia, Belgium, and elsewhere) and nearly as many available chilled in cans and bottles. Hurry Back’s offerings include “high gravity” beers. You’re going to need something to gnosh on, so there’s also an assortment of loaded hot dog and other comestibles. And to take you back, you’re going to need somebody to challenge on the bubble hockey game there.
The third reborn venue is the #Sutler. Back in the 1970s, you went to the smoky Sutler to hear your best friend’s husband and your second cousin’s band play. It was on Eighth Avenue, several steps away from the Melrose Bowling Alley. A full night might be to eat out somewhere on Eighth, go bowling for a couple of hours, and then hit the Sutler for drinks and dancing until the wee hours. Yeah, you were younger then.
The Sutler is scheduled to reappear in the entirely renovated Melrose area – but instead of having an “old” Eighth Avenue address, the new address will be (clear throat here) 2600 Franklin Pike. Fortunately, it’s supposed to look like the “old” Sutler but with a new second floor. Yes, you’ll still be able to get beer (fancier varieties these days), and there will be “Nashville style” food and, of course, live music. One of the owners is the guy who created the M. L. Rose restaurant fame. It’s going to be fun to think back to who you were when you last visited the Sutler. http://thesutler.com
Nashville. What’s old is new again. Priceless.