A ramen and hibachi restaurant called Yamato has opened at 1636 New Salem Hwy., and offers a variety of hibachi and ramen options with the choice of a tonkotsu, miso, shoyu and chicken bases. Hours are daily from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., except Tuesday, when the restaurant is closed. Visit yamatomurfreesboro.com for more information.
___
The former home of Juicy’s on Medical Center Parkway will soon become Dali Food, which offers a variety of authentic Venezuelan food options, including pastelitos, tequeños, arapas, empanadas and hamburgers.
Dali has been operating a food truck location at the Shell at 2125 NW Broad St.
___
Luna Latin Food has opened in the former Jack in the Box at 2181 Old Fort Pkwy. in the gas station just off of I-24. The restaurant offers empanadas, Cuban sandwiches, birria tacos, pastelitos, arepas, cheeseburgers, pollo con queso and more. Food can be ordered for delivery and pickup, as well as dine-in.
Luna’s hours are Monday through Friday 5:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. For more information, call 615-617-3205.
___
Mike’s Pizzeria has opened at 1612 Memorial Blvd. offering a variety of wood-fired pizzas with red and white sauces.
___
Owner and operator of Affi Pest and Wildlife and Prohibition Home Brewing, Jim Africano, has taken over operations at La Miscela Vineyard located at 3510 Almaville Rd.
The winery will begin winemaking classes in April, and plans to soon open its wine tasting room as well as hosting themed events.
The winery is located on more than 30 acres, and sources a wide selection of premium grapes from local and worldwide vineyards. Visit facebook.com/lamiscelavineyard for more information.
___
Five on Black Kitchen and Spirit House will open a new restaurant at 215 N. Church St. in the former B McNeel’s and Tasty Table location.
___
Country rapper Smo, formerly known as Big Smo, will open his Smolicious Mobile Eatery this spring, with an expected opening date of April 22. The food truck will offer salads and warm bowls, specialty sweets, smoothies blended with filtered water, oil-free, gluten-free and plant-based foods, soups, made-from-scratch dressings, overnight oats, whole foods and more.
Find the food truck at 401 N. Cannon Blvd. in Shelbyville.
Smo’s decision to live a healthier lifestyle came just a few years ago when he learned that he would have to have open heart surgery and a quadruple bypass at a young age. He decided to ditch the bad habits and turn his attention to hobbies like swimming and hiking, as well as going vegetarian.
After losing 200 pounds, he realized his calling included helping those around him to feel better as well, and began experimenting with healthier food options and eventually decided to start a food truck venture. For more information and menu options, visit smolicious.com.
___
So-Cali Taco Shop, located at 2805 Old Fort Pkwy., has added a mobile taco truck, which can be found at 1257 NW Broad St. The taco shop and truck offer authentic Californian and Mexican cuisine from shop owners who moved to Murfreesboro more than 10 years ago and offer more than 20 years of culinary expertise.
“Our story begins in 2018 when Edgar Moreno, a passionate and determined entrepreneur, fulfilled his dream of bringing the vibrant flavors of Southern California to the heart of Murfreesboro, Tennessee,” according to the owners. “With a deep love for Mexican cuisine and a desire to share his 20+ years of culinary expertise with the local community, Edgar, Adrianna and their family opened the doors to So-Cali Taco Shop, a restaurant that quickly became a beloved dining destination.”
Find dishes including tacos, burritos, quesadillas, tostadas, fajitas and sopes. For more information, visit socalitacoshop.com.
___
Joe and Dough, located at 1220 E. Northfield Blvd. recently announced that it has rebranded to Brunch and Brew Cafe to reflect the change to the menu, which includes even more brunch items. Meanwhile, the same crew, food, drinks and restaurant owner remain.
Some of the added items include vegan lunch burritos, protein bowls and burgers, $9.99 all-day specials and more.
For more information, visit brunchandbrewcafe.com.
___
Fulin’s has changed its name to Jasmine Asian Cuisine. Still located at 417 N. Thompson Ln. and still offering a variety of Chinese, sushi and Thai items, the change is simply a re-name, according to management.
Find more at jasminemurfreesboro.com.
___
Christy and Shawn Hackinson, who own and operate The Alley on Main, recently purchased the building located at 103 N. Maple St. in downtown Murfreesboro with plans to open 1 of 19 Cocktails and Raw Bar this summer.
“The Hackinsons did a thing,” they shared in a social media post in March. “We purchased 103 North Maple on the Murfreesboro square! Very shortly Dow Smith Company, Inc will be putting finishing touches on 1 of 19 Cocktails and Raw Bar, located in the basement.”
The new establishment will offer craft cocktails, fresh oysters and other delicious bites, they say. Visit facebook.com/1of19cocktails for more information and updates.
___
TailGate Brewery has announced that it will open a Murfreesboro location at the former Coconut Bay Cafe located at 210 Stones River Mall Blvd. This makes the ninth TailGate location in Tennessee.
The brewery, owned and operated by Wesley Keegan, will offer menu options including fried green tomatoes, pretzel bites, pork rinds, loaded taco fries, wings, sandwiches, pizzas and more. Other plans include offering a location for weekly trivia and a pet-friendly patio.
“Murfreesboro has been far and away our most-requested taproom location, and we’ve been working on finding the perfect home here for years,” according to TailGate marketing. “We’re so very excited to join the community here!”
The spot will offer 30 craft beers on draft and an outdoor seating area overlooking Stones River.
For further information, visit tailgatebeer.com.
___
Del Webb, a builder of active adult communities for those 55 and older, recently announced the grand opening of Del Webb Southern Harmony, a 576-acre, 55-plus community located at 7079 Franklin Rd. that includes 1,111 homes, a 21,516-square-foot clubhouse with a fitness center, pickleball and bocce ball courts, an amphitheater, a large outdoor resort pool, more than 10 acres of freshwater ponds and miles of paved sidewalks and walking trails.
The community will be showcasing six designer model homes featuring the latest architectural features and finishes. The first wave of buyers can expect to close in late 2024. Home prices will start in the $500,000s.
“Nashville’s exponential growth is well known, with the number of Tennesseans over age 60 expected to increase by 30% by 2040,” said Melanie Hemingway, vice president of sales for PulteGroup’s Tennessee Division.
Del Webb will offer 10 customizable single-family home designs across three price levels in sizes ranging from 1,345 to 2,712 square feet. Through Del Webb’s unique home-building experience, residents can personalize details of their dream homes utilizing interactive design tools and insight from its team of experts. Del Webb homes are equipped with smart home capabilities, Energy Star certification and industry-leading 10-year home warranties.
Del Webb has a full-time lifestyle director, Jennifer Rothe, who is devoted to cultivating a vibrant and satisfying lifestyle for all residents. A variety of activities will include fitness classes, social gatherings, educational programs and outings, all designed to cater to the community’s diverse interests. Residents will experience a stronger sense of camaraderie and connection, fostering a dynamic and flourishing community, and can anticipate a more enriched daily life filled with opportunities to build relationships, stay active and explore new interests. For more information, visit delwebb.com.
___
The Fountains at Gateway recently broke ground on Two Fountains Plaza. Its upcoming five-story building will be situated in phase two of the development, directly across from the fully leased One Fountains Plaza four-story building.
Two Fountains Plaza will include underground parking, the Studio at Fountains corporate office suites and meeting space on the first and second floors, and Atrium at Fountains, a 52-unit luxury condominium community on the top three floors.
It will be Murfreesboro’s first luxury, European-style condominium development. Pricing will start in the mid-$500,000s, and will feature one- to three-bedroom floor plans. Each residence will include an open living and dining area that adjoins a sleek kitchen with an island and a large primary suite with a bath. Most residences will feature a floor-to-ceiling glass wall system that opens to a large, private, covered terrace. It will also include secure underground parking, a private lobby and access-controlled traction elevators to their floor.
Atrium owners will enter their residence via an exclusive 40-by-120-foot, three-story tropical atrium featuring a 30-foot waterfall, fire pit seating area, a gazebo, walkways and hidden seating areas throughout the gardens. The Gallery space features a linear fireplace, comfortable seating and an art installation that reaches the glass dome. It also features an exclusive owners’ lounge, which includes a 12-person dining room, a warming kitchen, and a big screen viewing area. Additional amenities include a fitness center, a pet wash station and secure dog walking area, concierge and package pickup, and complimentary access to Studio at Fountains meeting space and cafe.
“We are delighted to unveil our plans for this exciting new phase of Fountains at Gateway and look forward to building on the success of the fully occupied first phase.” said developer Scott Graby. “Following the debut of our sales center and showroom kitchen this past weekend, we are already seeing better than expected reservation momentum for what will be the most unique living experience ever presented in Murfreesboro.”
Subsequent development plans for Fountains at Gateway Phase Two include a five-story boutique hotel connected by skybridge to the atrium level of the condominiums. The hotel fitness center and plunge pool on the skybridge will be shared with condominium owners. According to Graby, he has discussed adding another restaurant on the ground floor of the hotel with two local chefs, and an additional venue space that will increase capacity for events at the View at Fountains. Street-facing retail or health services will complete the ground floor. The project is expected to be complete by 2025.
For more information, visit fountainsatgateway.com/news.
___
United Communications and Middle Tennessee Electric recently celebrated the grand opening for their new Rutherford Operations Center at 1010 Haley Rd.
The 18,000-square-foot facility will serve as a local hub to support United’s $85 million fiber internet expansion to reach an additional 77,000 Middle Tennessee Electric members in Murfreesboro and surrounding areas. The new building will be home to 60 local employees when fully staffed, with many more field employees dedicated to serving Murfreesboro and Rutherford County.
“United’s investment in Murfreesboro is one of our most ambitious projects yet, and we’ve already hit the ground running,” said United Communications President and CEO William Bradford. “The Rutherford Operations Center solidifies our position as the only local internet provider in Rutherford County by establishing a base of operations for our personnel and equipment in the center of this great community.”
According to United Communications’ Chief Financial Officer Kristin Jackson, the company’s high-speed fiber network has already been expanded to reach 6,000 homes and businesses in Murfreesboro.
“With several projects underway, we are working to bring cutting-edge internet speeds to all of Murfreesboro, ensuring that residents and businesses can benefit from the ultimate speed and reliability while enjoying the best customer service in the industry,” said Jackson.
United offers residential customers monthly fiber internet plans starting at $49.95 with residential speeds of up to 2 Gbps with no contracts. For more information, visit united.net.
___
LivAway Suites is now accepting advanced reservations for its first Tennessee hotel opening in Smyrna. LivAway offers an extended, long-term stay with various amenities including spacious, in-room kitchens, virtual check-in, pet friendly rooms, a co-working area, on-site parking, laundry and mail notifications via phone, well-lit parking lots, an on-site fitness center, vending machines and more.
LivAway Suites broke ground on multiple sites around the country in 2023, and established partnerships with hospitality management platform HotelKey and hospitality customer support brand Cloud5 Communications, which offer a seamless, tech-forward and guest-first mission in the extended stay industry.
The new website features descriptions of the suites, an overview of amenities for every guest profile, locations and the debut of advanced reservations for its new locations. Visit livawaysuites.com for more information or to book.
___
CLOSINGS
Coach T’s in Eagleville has closed.
St. Patrick’s Day weekend was the final time in operation for the local establishment.
“After a thorough and thoughtful deliberation process, my wife and I have reached the decision to sell our beloved restaurant. We are pleased to announce that it will be acquired by Studio 18,” Coach T’s owner Bill Tollett stated in a social media post, also thanking his employees and customers. “It is with mixed emotions that we make this difficult decision, but at this stage of our lives, we believe it is best for us.”
___
Longhorn Liquor announced in late March that it will be closing and that it will place all inventory on sale in preparation for the closing.
The City of Murfreesboro has acquired the property at 223 NW Broad St. and will tear down the building—as it has the neighboring buildings—to make room for the road widening and Daylighting of Town Creek park project, which will stretch from Church Street to Cannonsburgh.
