Love Thai Sushi will open its second location in early July at the Fountains at Gateway. The new location, housed in a 2,312-square-foot space just inside the entrance to the Fountains facing Medical Center Parkway, will include an interior designed by Paradym Studio to create a light and airy feel, garage doors, a patio and string lights overhead. The new location will offer carryout and dine-in.
Love Thai will offer a wide range of chef-created menu options including homemade dumplings, egg rolls, soups, salads, authentic Thai entrees and sushi rolls. Chef Puy Darasawang and another chef from Thailand will provide the location with decades of experience and an array of delicious dishes.
“Our motto is good friends, good food and good life,” said restaurant co-owner Phitsamay Vannavong, Puy’s wife. “Puy opened his first business in Thailand. In 2015, we came to the United States with a dream to create a small family business here. Our dream came true when we opened Love Thai Sushi in Christiana and had our first child. Our son, Dragon, is now 4 years old, and in early July, our dream continues as we open our second restaurant and serve more friends and customers.”
Love Thai Sushi at the Fountains will announce the opening date and lunch and dinner hours of operation at lovethaisushitn.com.
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Mamajuana 615 has opened at the former Hungry Bear Cheesesteaks location across from MTSU at 2830 Middle Tennessee Blvd. The new Dominican-American restaurant serves a variety of dishes including roasted chicken with mushrooms and onions, crab cakes, and, most likely, mamajuana—an alcoholic beverage originating in the Dominican Republic that includes rum, red wine, honey and spices.
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After occupying 302 W. Main St. for several years, Whiskey Dix Saloon is moving to a former judicial building located on the Murfreesboro Public Square.
The former Whiskey Dix building at 302 W. Main is currently under construction, and will soon be occupied with Happy’s Sports Lounge, which will offer virtual golf, bowling, live music and alcohol—a non-smoking location for sports entertainment. This new sports lounge is expected to open this fall.
The owners of Hank’s Honky Tonk plan to open a new restaurant in the new Whiskey Dix building on the Square, in the portion of the building just across Maple Street from Marina’s.
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Yummy Asian Hut at 1636 New Salem Rd. is now open, with hours from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day, and offering pickup and delivery. The new restaurant offers a variety of poke, hibachi and traditional Asian dishes. For more information, call 615-624-8752 or visit yummyasianhut.com.
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The Murfreesboro City Council declined to enter into a development agreement with Notes Live to proceed with plans for a new 4,500-seat entertainment venue in Murfreesboro. Plans for the proposed $40 million entertainment and dining project called The Sunset Music Colosseum on the River also included a Bourbon Brothers Smokehouse & Tavern as well as a new Greenway trailhead to be located off Medical Center Parkway.
Mayor Shane McFarland and City Council members Bill Shacklett and Kirt Wade voted in favor of the project at the council’s June 30 meeting, with Vice Mayor Madelyn Scales-Harris and councilmen Rick LaLance and Shawn Wright voting no, resulting in a 3–3 deadlock. Ronnie Martin could have been the deciding vote for the development, but abstained from the vote, saying that he wouldn’t be present on the council for the completion of the project. The mayor sought attention for the project with a public announcement of plans in May—which caused much public discussion, including concerns over adding even more traffic to the already busy Medical Center Parkway area—but for now those plans will not proceed at that location.
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7 Brew Coffee recently announced that it will open its first Tennessee location this fall at 217 N. Thompson Ln. beside Slim Chickens. This new location will be an addition to the company’s 21 locations across the South and Midwest, which include locations in Arkansas, Missouri, South Carolina, Kansas and Texas. The company has plans to extend further within the greater Middle Tennessee area by 2023.
7 Brew offers drive-thru coffee and other drinks including infused energy drinks, Italian sodas, smoothies and teas.
“We’re thrilled to be bringing our drive-thru coffee experience to Murfreesboro and the greater Middle Tennessee area, and to be able to showcase what 7 Brew is all about—a top-notch, high-energetic team, fast service and quality beverages,” said 7 Brew COO and Director of Franchising Drew Ritger.
“We’re excited that the Middle Tennessee area will be our newest home and that we’ll have the opportunity to put smiles on customers’ faces by giving them great service and the jolt of energy they’re looking for when visiting a 7 Brew stand.”
7 Brew offers a variety of iced and hot coffee beverages, like its fan-favorite Blondie and White Mac Chillers. Seasonal beverage options are also available each month and 7 Brew fans can access these beloved drinks year-round by ordering from the “secret drink” menu.
The Murfreesboro location expects to hire more than 40 new brew crew members once opened. For more information, visit 7brew.com.
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Brian Burns of Blue Sky Construction has purchased multiple properties on Maney Street, which includes Crying Cat Books & Records, recently sold at auction. Burns says he does not have immediate plans to develop the block, which means that Crying Cat can continue operating at its current home within one of the Maney Street buildings (despite rising rent costs over the coming months).
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After nearly four years in Murfreesboro, Ichiban Japanese Restaurant on Northwest Broad Street has closed. As of now, owners of the restaurant do not have plans to reopen. However, owner and operator Becky Kounlavong mentioned in a recent interview that they may open another restaurant someday, if the opportunity presents itself.
Kounlavong also stated that although she enjoyed operating the restaurant, there were times post-COVID when running the business was more complicated than enjoyable due to a lack of staff, rising costs, reduced traffic and other reasons. A company recently reached out to Ichiban with an offer to lease the building as an event venue, so Kounlavong felt like maybe the timing was right.
