Murfreesboro Post
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The ‘Main’ thing




The 'Main' thing

The ‘Main’ thing

Downtown Murfreesboro seems to be experiencing a surge of business openings or relocations, especially around West Main Street near the square.

There are newcomers like soon-to-be-open Nick Newton’s Restaurant & Bar and its companion pizza business, and new ownership at Vibe Nutrition. Other investors are opening businesses just a block or two off West Main Street as well.

Signs went up last week in a vacant storefront at 224 W. Main announcing the imminent arrival of The Exchange Boutique, which will be moving from North Spring Street.

Earlier this year, part of the 300 block underwent a facelift with renovations to a building that once housed Southern Stained Glass & Door but now includes McCarter-East PLLC, Regal Title and Franklin-Synergy Bank.

New chance for probation office

On the other side of the 300 block, the building housing the county probation office is for sale. Real estate agent George Weeks said the listing price is $699,000 for 8,400 square feet, or roughly $83 per square foot. The probation office is seeking another location, he said.

“There has been a lot of interest in that property,” Weeks noted. “The best and highest usage would be for retail.”

Real estate agent Larry Sims, who has an office on the north side of the square, said he agrees that the probation office moving would be a boon to downtown revitalization.

Some of the changes downtown are being driven by the court system moving from the square to the new judicial building on Lytle Street, Sims said. Attorneys are already starting to move locations to be near the new building.

“The dust is settling,” Sims said. “Merchants think it is a good thing. It used to be you had to fight for a parking space.”

For all the variety in downtown businesses, it is restaurants that drive commerce, Sims said. That is true at any major commercial node, whether it is downtown or on Thompson Lane or at The Avenue.

“We need more variety,” he said.

Double restaurant billing

Sims’ desire is being fulfilled as two restaurants are opening together on West Main Street: Nick Newton’s Restaurant & Bar and its companion eatery, Spinelli’s Pizzeria, due to open in about a month.

The owners are Nick Smith and Cameron Newton. The men own a similar restaurant setup in Tullahoma: Daddy Billy’s Restaurant & Bar as well as Spinelli’s, both of which are a model for the forthcoming Murfreesboro eateries.

Newton said he became involved as an investor in Daddy Billy’s about four years ago and helped remodel the 40-some-year-old restaurant. Spinelli’s, a chain, opened next door to Daddy Billy’s.

Nick Newton’s, like its Tullahoma predecessor, will have burgers and panini sandwiches, among other offerings, Newton said. Live music will be an important component. The front 5,000 square feet will be Nick’s and feature garage doors facing the street that will open in good weather, with the restaurant staying open until 2 or 3 a.m. as a bar. Spinelli’s will operate from the back portion and stay open until 4 or 5 a.m. on the weekends, with deliveries running nearly that late.

One might ask what drew the businessmen 45 miles from Tullahoma to Murfreesboro.

“As a business owner you want to see continued investment in the areas where you’re waving your flag,” Newton said of Murfreesboro’s ongoing downtown revitalization.

The partners knew that the downtown traffic situation would improve once the Bridge Over Broad was completed, he said. The presence of other restaurants like Puckett’s Grocery & Restaurant and Jack Brown’s Beer and Burger Joint was a bonus.

“It felt like it was the right spot for us,” Newton said.

Good vibes

This small piece of real estate seems to be drawing other newcomers to the city, such as the Rolison and Jarman families.

Mykah and Alex Rolison and Kelli and Jimmy Jarman said they had already planned to move to Tennessee from Oklahoma to start an Herbalife business and had planned to build a store. Then, they found that Vibe Nutrition on West Main Street was available and took over earlier this summer.

“It’s been awesome,” Mykah Rolison said.

Murfreesboro is a big town but has a small-town appeal, and that is good, she said, since she is from a small town.

Vibe Nutrition offers breakfast and lunch shakes, plus services like meal planning and grocery list planning, she said. Some of the shakes taste like ice cream but are healthy, Alex Rolison said.

One benefit of their location is that the downtown merchants are helpful, he noted.

“Everyone has been so friendly,” Alex Rolison said.

Events like Friday Night Live and the Murfreesboro Saturday Market are bonuses, too, they said.

The Alley on Main

Another possible downtown upgrade could include a new offering from The Alley on Main.

WKRN reported in February that The Alley on Main’s owners plan to build a two-story business called The Riser Room on the vacant lot next to their existing operation. The plans were to have a fast-casual lunch downstairs and activities like live performances on the ground floor at night. The second story could have Murfreesboro’s first rooftop bar.

The Alley on Main’s owners could not be reached for comment.

Robert Holtz, director of the city’s building and codes department, said the owners have submitted site plans and building plans for review. The review process for the two-story building with front porch is not complete, but is moving forward.

Renovations spread around downtown

The West Main Street renovations seem to be spilling over into surrounding blocks, such as the new judicial building on Lytle Street. Boro Town Cakes recently announced it would open a grab-and-go location across the street from the judicial building later this summer.

Steven Hernandez of Nolensville opened Hernandez Mexican Deli three months ago at 306 W. Vine St., the home of the former Sub Stop Murfreesboro, just two blocks off West Main Street. The restaurateur said he did not specifically look for a downtown Murfreesboro location: He searched all over Nashville, Smyrna and Murfreesboro. Many strip malls in the region already had Mexican restaurants with non-compete clauses that locked him out of those sites. Then, rent at many other sites was too expensive.

His real estate agent finally found the Vine Street site, where the rent was just right, he said. He likes the proximity to Middle Tennessee State University and said he believes he can grow his business by appealing to students.

Despite there being a number of Mexican restaurants in town, Hernandez said, he believes his product is unique with his cooking fresh ingredients and making dishes from scratch, such as his salsa and green chile sauce.

Networking with his peers – and competitors – has had its rewards as well.

Downtown merchants have been friendly and have sent him business, he said.

“It’s all about supporting each other,” Hernandez said.

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