Murfreesboro’s newest pie shop will celebrate its grand opening Sept. 8 at 2314 Medical Center Pkwy.
Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop opened a few weeks ago but will offer its fabulous pies, hot coffee, giveaways and door prizes in an official opening celebration starting at 10 a.m. Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop offers delicious scratch-made pies in 4- and 9-inch sizes. Traditional pies like Southern Buttermilk, Chocolate Chess, Coconut Cream, Key lime, Granny’s Apple Pie, and I-40 Pecan are served year-round.
The pie shop’s neighbor Blaze Pizza opened its location at 2314 Medical Center Pkwy. on Aug. 27 with a ribbon cutting. A California-based chain, Blaze features freaky-fast, fast-fired, artisanal pizza. This is the fourth Blaze store in Tennessee.
Speaking of pizza, Spinelli’s Pizzeria and Nick Newton’s are set to open in October on West Main Street (in the space formerly known as Tempt). The dual concept will serve menus from both restaurants in the same space.
The sign at Panera Bread has changed, and so will the rest of the restaurant, which is going through an extensive remodel.
Miller’s Ale House
The TGIF near Stones River Mall won’t stay empty very long, as Miller’s Ale House has announced it will take over the building at 1714 Old Fort Pkwy. The Florida-born chain is a casual sports restaurant with freshly made food and 75 beers on tap, with locations in Franklin and Chattanooga.
Just down OFP on Cason Lane, a Japanese restaurant has taken over the space formerly known as Bob’s BBQ and Kirkenburt’s before that. Not much more is known, but I’ll keep a close eye on it.
As I’ve reported before, Uncle Bud’s is preparing to open again in the ’Boro. It’s been a few years since they’ve served up their signature catfish here but it seems the time is approaching, because the renovations are nearly finished at 1824 Old Fort Pkwy.
Gondolier is changing its concept and name. The Italian and Greek spot at 219 NW Broad St. will become 219 Mixed Cuisine (see what they did?). The menu will now focus on Thai, Italian and American with a sushi bar. Sadly, the dessert case is gone.
Fitness and Wellness Stuff
Climb Murfreesboro has opened its doors at 1660 Memorial Blvd. A full year after it announced its intentions, Climb Murfreesboro is ready with its 45-foot climbing walls, bouldering areas for free climbing, workout and cardio equipment, and yoga. Tom Frye with Baker Story McDonald Properties previously said he wants the gym to be the centerpiece to revitalize the multi-tenant shopping center that once housed Hastings.
Another Nashville-based attraction, Float Alchemy has finally opened its full complement of services. Along with four float tanks, it offers saunas, cryotherapy, massage therapy and a kombucha bar. The facility will be at 131 Cason Ln. in the former location of Gish’s Amish Furniture.
Fortified Fitness and Fortified Warrior Ninja Obstacle Training are moving into a new location. The new lease on a 6,000-square-foot building will bring both businesses under one roof on West Rutherford Boulevard (down from Crossfit Rutherford and Bill Taylor’s Bushido School of Karate).
HOTWORX is opening a second location on Rutherford Boulevard. The fitness chain recently opened its first location on Medical Center Parkway. HOTWORX offers its members unlimited, 24-hour access to a variety of virtually instructed, infrared sauna workouts.
Another nationwide fitness franchise, Cyclebar this time, plans to open its brand of “premium indoor cycling” on the corner of Medical Center Parkway and Robert Rose Drive. By the looks of it, it’s a giant spin class. I could support that.
If you’re looking for single-sex workouts, Burn Boot Camp might be right for you. It is a boutique fitness concept where women work out together. Camps are 45 minutes in length, are offered multiple times throughout the day, and comprise 72 different styles and 15 different formats. Clients learn more than just healthy eating and exercise tips at Burn Boot Camp, as the concept strays from the competition by operating on a five-pillar philosophy to help clients achieve success: mindset, whole food nutrition, burst training, strength training and positive environment.
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A Sanctuary for Healing
The Gentle Barn has relocated to Rutherford County from the Knoxville area, recently hosting a launch celebration at its farm on Christiana Fosterville Road in Christiana.
Founded in 1999 as a sanctuary and place of recovery for severely abused animals and children, The Gentle Barn offers a unique philosophy of rehabilitating animals and connecting their stories of survival and healing to the personal experiences of inner city, at-risk and special needs children who have suffered physical, mental or emotional trauma. By interacting with The Gentle Barn’s animals and taking a hands-on role in their welfare, those who participate in the programs at The Gentle Barn learn empathy, trust and forgiveness.
The Gentle Barn will offer public tours on Sundays. For more information, visit gentlebarn.org.
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Milton News
Work continues on the historic Milton venue to be known as The Gathering at Milton. Months of extensive restoration on the building that formerly housed Manuel’s Cajun Country Store and earlier Cherry’s Store is nearing an end.
Owners Alanna and Phillip Vaught plan to celebrate their event venue’s completion with an Oct. 13 community Fall Market and Craft Fair.
The 100-year-old building sits across from the Milton Post Office northeast of Murfreesboro. For more information, visit facebook.com/thegatheringatmilton.
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Other Business News
This has gotten kind of long so here’s a list of new businesses. Hopefully, I’ll be able to revisit them with more information soon.
Judy Goldie and Melanie Davenport are opening The Marketplace Home & Gift, a new home decor shop on the Square. It will be next door to Goldie’s other businesses, Bella’s Boutique and Trendy Pieces.
A new addition to the Barfield area that will open in September. Windsong Studio of Jewelry Arts is not your normal jewelry shop. The owner will conduct classes on making your own. For more, visit windsongstudiotn.com.
Stars and Strikes family fun center has plans to open in September at 333 N. Lowry St. in Smyrna. Find more at starsandstrikes.com.
The German grocery store Aldi opened its newest shop Aug. 30 at 3267 Memorial Blvd. Don’t forget to bring your own bags.
The Gaming Professor brings a unique tabletop gaming experience to you for a work social, a night out at a local restaurant, a team building experience, or a party with friends. Find more at facebook.com/thegamingprof or email TheGamingProfessorD20@gmail.com.
Onyx Shear Hair Art, the downtown Murfreesboro home of Steven Handyside, an internationally trained Australian stylist and master colorist with 17 years of experience, specializes in women’s precision cuts and men’s barber cuts.
Heath Frazier, one of the founders of Jug Creek Distillery in Lascassas, was severely injured in a recent car accident, leaving him unconscious and on a ventilator. His injuries will require costly rehabilitation. A GoFundMe page has been set up at gofundme.com/heath-amp-angela-frazier.
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The Outpost Armory has submitted plans for Murfreesboro Indoor Range, a gun shop and shooting range on 2.2 acres on Beasie Road near Warrior Drive and New Salem Highway. No word on previous plans the Christiana-based gun purveyor had for a range in The Bottoms.
Veteran-owned and operated Black Rifle Coffee Company is proud to announce the opening of its Manchester, Tenn., roasting facility as part of the company’s $6 million investment in that state. Black Rifle Coffee Company was built on the foundation of providing coffee and culture to the people who love America.
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Closings Corner
According to WSMV, the financiers of several franchises in Rutherford, Maury and Davidson counties have closed six restaurants in recent weeks.
Larry Lavine and Richard Reeves have closed Dog Haus Biergarten in Murfreesboro, Checkers in Nashville, La Vergne and Smyrna, and a Taco Johns and Church’s Chicken in Columbia, leaving customers confused and employees unpaid. Lavine declined to comment to WSMV under advisement from his lawyer.
The WSMV report said Lavine and Reeves owe more than $10,000 in delinquent property taxes on the Checkers location in Smyrna alone. The same report said a representative of Dog Haus in Murfreesboro told a reporter “a dispute between the franchise partners resulted in the closure of the Murfreesboro location.”
Dog Haus Biergarten’s corporate office plans to reopen the store and rehire as many previous employees as possible.
A Facebook post claimed Dog Haus was closed because of “maintenance issues.” But the restaurant’s corporate office confirmed that employees hadn’t been paid since July 24. No reopening date has been announced.
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In other closings news, Nobody’s Grille announced it will not be renewing its lease.
The barbecue joint and bar has been serving good food and good times for nine years, starting in the old Corky’s (where Texas Roadhouse is now) and then in Clarion Inn.
“One reason is that we cannot afford a new lease with our landlord, which is beyond our budget.
Another reason is that we are officially moving to Florida for family reasons. We’ll be starting a new life and finding new opportunities,” Katherine and David McCauley said in a post on Nobody’s Facebook page.
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McGregor’s Liquors will close after more than 30 years of serving Murfreesboro. Owner Steve Tambornini sold the business located on the corner of Lokey Street and Memorial Boulevard.
The new owners will relocate the store to the corner of Old Lascassas and Greenland Drive, where a Kwik Sak was located until recently.
