Pizza, Mexican and other fare will be available at eateries opening this spring in Murfreesboro.
Sami’s Brick Oven Pizza held its soft opening at the end of March. The restaurant is located on Broad Street (next to Party Fowl).
A second downtown pizza joint will take the place of nightclub Tempt. Spinelli’s Pizza is currently remodeling the space to house a franchise of the Philadelphia late-night staple. If you want to try it out, there is already a location in Tullahoma.
Another pizza joint, this one called Tre Sorelle, is set to open in July at Gateway Village on North Thompson Lane. Family-owned and operated, the restaurant will be an upscale brick-oven pizzeria. It will also offer gluten-free and vegan options.
Still no official word on when BoomBozz Pizza in The Gateway might open. To soothe your feelings about BoomBozz, you can travel to Smyrna for a Diamond Doughnut. Along with diamond-shaped doughnuts, the restaurant will also serve breakfast and lunch fare at its 12974 Old Nashville Hwy. location.
I, for one, still mourn the loss of JoZoara. The house latte was killer. Alas, it looks like the space will be home to yet another Thai restaurant, because a permit on the door says the remodeling is for Ginger Thai Bistro.
CJ’s Restaurant and Catering is opening a second location in the Holiday Inn just off of Medical Center Parkway. For more information about CJ’s, visit cjsintheboro.com.
The bright pink paint on Vine Street has been replaced. I reported last month that Sub Stop was closing because the building was being sold. Now we know that the pink sandwich palace is being replaced by Hernandez Mexican Deli. The new Mexican deli will serve coffee, breakfast and lunch.
El Hornito Bakery
Another Mexican-themed concept has set its sights on Murfreesboro. A banner reading “El Hornito Bakery #2” has been hung above a unit in the same multi-tenant commercial development on Rutherford Boulevard that also houses Nacho’s Mexican Restaurant and Little Caesar’s. El Hornito Bakery on Murfreesboro Road in Nashville serves Mexican bread and pastries. Check out some amazing cakes on its Facebook page.
Mexico Tipico is the new occupant of the restaurant space next to Regal Inn at 2021 S. Church St. The restaurant serves authentic Mexican fare from the unassuming space.
Future Still Afloat
Float Alchemy may open sometime soon, but the owners are still struggling with the Murfreesboro Codes Department.
In a Facebook Live post on March 2, owners Amy Grimes and Mark Chessir announced they have passed a majority of their codes inspections so that they will be able to open at least part of their services in Murfreesboro soon. Grimes and Chessir, who also own Float Nashville, announced their plans to open a new location in Murfreesboro way back in September 2017 with hopes of opening by the end of the year. But it’s taken a bit longer.
Then, on March 22, Grimes and Chessir were given a partial occupancy permit for their building on Cason Lane. They can use the building with the exception of the float room. Over the past few weeks, they have been putting up the finishing touches and training staff.
In the meantime, Grimes said they plan first to open a kombucha taproom and massage room. Kombucha Taproom opens on Friday, April 6 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The Taproom will be serving natural probiotic drinks and farm fresh goods Tuesdays through Sundays. Cryotherapy will be available starting Tuesday, April 10.
They said then that the Murfreesboro location will offer the same amenities as the Nashville flotation center, just on a larger scale. The new facility will be at 131 Cason Lane in the former location of Gish’s Amish Furniture. Floating in an isolation tank can reduce stress, anxiety and pain while enhancing creativity and performance, according to the Float Murfreesboro team.
Want to Escape?
If you’ve ever wanted to escape Murfreesboro, here’s your chance, as Locked Murfreesboro prepares for a massive citywide game. Called Escape Murfreesboro, the event will occur from 2–5 p.m. April 29. After signing up at escapemurfreesboro.com, teams will register at Locked Murfreesboro and receive clues to solve a series of puzzles and perform physical tasks. Throughout the event, players will be challenged to find 12 fictional FBI agents around the city to win the grand prize.
The event is $40 per person or $55 for a VIP ticket including a T-shirt and priority registration. Locked Games is owned and operated by MTSU graduate Lucas Johnson. Make your reservation at escapemurfreesboro.com.
New Real Estate Firm
United Real Estate Middle Tennessee, a new real estate brokerage firm, has brought 100 percent commissions to agents in Middle Tennessee. Owners Rick Murr and Curran Scarlata report that since opening in their doors in late 2017, United Real Estate has grown rapidly each month with agent count and transaction volume.
While a 100 percent commission strategy isn’t typical in the real estate industry. Murr and Scarlata indicated they appreciate this unique approach.
United Real Estate is part of the largest fully integrated network of real estate and auction professionals in the nation. The company has been in real estate marketing since 1925. United Real Estate, a division of the United Real Estate Group, has more than 70 offices and 3,000 agents.
United Real Estate Middle Tennessee will hold a grand opening event Sunday, April 8, from 12:30–2:30 p.m. at their office at 1602 W. Northfield Blvd. in Murfreesboro.
“Our grand opening is an opportunity to say thank you to our clients, family and friends,” Scarlata said.
Light Up Local with Locally Owned Murfreesboro
Locally Owned Murfreesboro and Smyrna Independent Merchants Association have joined forces for an epic event, the inaugural Light Up Local Firefly Awards.
Light Up Local promises to be an exciting evening of local food, music and the presentation of the Firefly Awards.
“Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend. You do not have to be a local business owner to come show your support,” said Gretchen Bilbro, president of Locally Owned Murfreesboro.
Tickets are $35 for the event, which is set for 6–9 p.m. Tuesday, April 24 at The Grove at Williamson Place, 3250 Wilkinson Pike in Murfreesboro. Tickets can be purchased on EventBrite.
This is a people’s choice awards celebration. Nominations were taken in 10 categories that highlight the importance of supporting independent businesses and showcasing locally owned businesses in both Murfreesboro and Smyrna in carefully selected categories.
Visit https://locallyownedmurfreesboro.org/voting/ to vote for your favorite locally owned businesses. Be sure to vote for The Murfreesboro Pulse in the category of Best Social Media.
Health Care Options Expanding
Murfreesboro Medical Clinic, Saint Thomas Health and Vanderbilt are set to expand in Murfreesboro.
Murfreesboro Medical Clinic will be the anchor tenant of a new, 22,200-square-foot retail building that began construction last month at Fountains at Gateway, according to developer Scott Graby, president of Hearthstone Properties.
MMC has leased nearly 80 percent of the new building for its growing medical spa, dermatology and plastic surgery departments. The 17,565-square-foot lease includes 6,068 square feet on the first floor and 11,497 square feet on the second floor.
The three departments will relocate to Fountains in late 2018 or early 2019 from Murfreesboro Medical Clinic and Surgicenter on Garrison Drive, MMC CEO Joseph A. Peay said in a press release.
The new building at Fountains at Gateway will be situated on the southeast corner of the development, facing Medical Center Parkway. According to Graby, site preparation is complete and construction is underway.
Vanderbilt University Medical Center plans to build a Pediatric Clinic and Ambulatory Surgery Center at the site between New Vision Baptist Church, Hope Clinic and the corporate headquarters for Kasai North America.
VUMC would construct a single story, 37,500 square feet Pediatric Clinic and Ambulatory Surgery Center as the first phase of construction.
Work on the $21 million investment, including site prep, is anticipated to begin 10–12 months from the date of closing on the acquisition of the property. The first phase would also include approximately 190 ground-level parking spaces.
As part of the sale to VUMC, the city is accelerating the construction of the road segment from Gateway Boulevard to Thompson Lane to accommodate VUMC’s proposed use of the property. It is anticipated that the proceeds of the sale to VUMC will more than offset the cost of constructing this segment of the Northfield extension.
Finally, Saint Thomas Health recently purchased a lot on New Salem Highway for nearly $1.5 million.
Saint Thomas Rutherford CEO Gordon Ferguson said the 3-acre lot near the existing Saint Thomas Medical Partners New Salem building will be the home of a $16-million surgical treatment center.
The surgi-center is planned to be a 13,000-square-foot multi-specialty facility with two operating rooms and one procedure room.
Closings Corner
Toys“R”Us made it Facebook official on March 15 when it announced it had filed for bankruptcy. The toy store will “begin the process of conducting an orderly wind-down of its U.S. business and liquidation of inventory in all 735 of the company’s U.S. stores,” according to a press release.
After 31 years in business, Appletons Creative Framers closed. Appletons Creative Framers, a nationally award-winning framer, was owned and operated by Bill Brison.
“The journey has been an unbelievable one and the folks we have met have made it so special. Every business has a beginning and an end and as we near that time we wanted to thank each of you that has allowed us to help over the many years,” Brison said in a Facebook post.
In a simple “Time to Retire” post on Facebook, Jack and Cheryl Lisi announced they will soon be closing Let’s Make Wine. Jack and Cheryl have spent the last eight years bringing the essentials of homemade wine and beer to the Murfreesboro masses. But they have decided to take it easy and retire April 28.
“We can’t put into words how much we have loved getting to know each and every one of you. Hopefully one of you will keep wine club going and we can get together now and then,” the Lisis said on Facebook.
Stop in before the end of April and pick up some spirit staples on sale.
Phat Kaps on West Main Street wasn’t open as long as Appletons or Let’s Make Wine, but brown paper over its windows recently signaled its closing.
After five years in business, Pigtails & Crewcuts: Haircuts for Kids is closing its doors in The Avenue.
