TailGate Brewery has officially opened its Murfreesboro location at 210 Stones River Mall Blvd. in the former Coconut Bay Cafe building. It features at least 30 beers on draft, a full food menu, a barrel-aging area and an outdoor seating area overlooking the Stones River.
Privately owned and one of Tennessee’s largest craft breweries, TailGate’s craft beer lineup includes everything from German Reinheitsgebot-inspired lagers to heavily fruited sours and IPAs. The brewery offers a fresh rotation of styles at its taprooms across Tennessee, and its core lineup of brews are also available at retail locations across the state.
“Every TailGate Brewery taproom is unique to the neighborhood it’s in, and we expect this one to evolve to what the community says it should be. We’re excited for this to be a long-term investment in Murfreesboro. But it doesn’t matter what I think, it matters what the people of Murfreesboro enjoy in a craft brewery,” said TailGate Brewery’s owner and original founder, Wesley Keegan. “It’s just up to us to be great stewards to the community.”
The Nashville-based craft brewery and pizzeria now operates eight taprooms across Tennessee and has more than 175 employees. Five of its award-winning core beers are available year-round: Orange Wheat, Howdy Cloudy Hazy Session IPA, TENN Golden Lager, Peanut Butter Milk Stout, and TailGate Cider, and it brews various unique recipes and small-batch beers throughout the year. For more information, visit tailgatebeer.com.
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The family-owned and operated Knick Nash recently opened a location at The Avenue, the third location for Knick Nash in addition to its stores at Opry Mills and Cool Springs Galleria. Knick Nash offers a variety of Tennessee-themed goodies including snacks, trinkets, home goods, pet items, favorites from Tennessee brands such as Goo Goo Clusters, syrups and sauces from Nashville’s Loveless Cafe, Moon Pies and more.
The new location is just between Lens Crafters and Restore Hyper Wellness, and welcomes leashed dogs. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Visit facebook.com/knicknash for more information.
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Heroes Den will open a bar and lounge at 1257 NW Broad St., which previously housed Farrell-Calhoun Paints, just beside MJ’s Sports Bar and Grill.
The new establishment, also known simply as “H” and locally owned and operated by Shawn and Cynthia Crook, will hold a grand opening celebration on Friday, July 19, kicking off at 5 p.m. and featuring live music from Sal Gonzalez, Chris Turner, Cody Sanders and Patrick Green.
Heroes Den’s formerly operated at the restaurant space at 2805 Old Fort Pkwy., currently the home of Single Tree BBQ.
So-Cali Taco Shop (which has its brick-and-mortar location next to Single Tree) currently operates a taco truck in the Broad Street parking lot in front of the upcoming Heroes Den location. Visit facebook.com/heroesden or call 615-635-9141 for updates.
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After just a few months in business, Guatelinda at 206 N. Thompson Ln. has closed. However, a new taco restaurant, Casa Amigos, has already replaced the former restaurant in the space. The new restaurant offers fresh ingredients with a variety of options including fajitas, street tacos, breakfast burritos, taco salads, street corn, tortas, shrimp tacos and more. Casa Amigos offers pickup and delivery through DoorDash as well as dine-in and takeout options. Restaurant hours are Sunday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. For more information, call 615-624-6401.
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CAVA plans to open its first Murfreesboro location on Friday, July 12. One day prior, on Thursday, July 11, CAVA will host a Community Day preview event to raise funds to fight hunger and reduce food waste. The restaurant, located at 2634 Medical Center Pkwy., Murfreesboro, will host its new neighbors for a free meal and match donations guests make to Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee at the Community Day event.
CAVA offers customizable Mediterranean bowls, pitas, salads, its signature Crazy Feta dip, spicy lamb meatballs, honey chicken, and an herby skhug, a traditional Middle Eastern sauce made with cilantro, chiles, garlic and other herbs.
Register for the Community Day event here; find more on CAVA at cava.com.
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Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation Department staff say they expect the new Old Fort Park Skate Park and Pump Track to open to visitors by mid-July. The streetscape-style concrete skate park, along with a pump track—which will be available for bike and scooter riders—will be located where the old Pavilions #1 and #2 once stood within Old Fort Park. Griggs and Maloney designed the feature in partnership with Newline Skate Parks after getting feedback from the area BMX and skateboarding community. Officials ask skaters to stay off of the site until it is officially complete and open so nothing interferes with the project staying on schedule.
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Kids Land has begun remodeling the space at 2812 Old Fort Pkwy., Ste. E by the Wasabi Japanese Steak House.
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The Kiwanis Club of Rutherford County, a new Smyrna-based Kiwanis chapter, recently celebrated its Charter Night Ceremony with Kiwanis KY-TN District Governor Jim Gazay, who emphasized the importance of collective effort and determination for meaningful and lasting service, as well as the club’s shared values and beliefs, which stand as the driving force behind impactful projects. The club was organized in March of this year and features a membership of 24 individuals committed to community service and leadership. Lieutenant Governor Nancy Hibler, Division 1, attended the ceremony, assisting Governor Gazay in the installation and pinning of officers and directors, as well as recognizing the charter members for their commitment and dedication.
The club’s officers include Charter President Asenath Johnson, President-Elect Frank Clayton, Vice-President Shannon Wheeler, Secretary David Johns and Treasurer Michael Zuidema. Board members include Amy Bone, Becky Lanham, Janna Landrum, Angela Murphy and Shelia Horvath. The Kiwanis Club of Murfreesboro serves as the sponsor club, providing support and guidance.
The Kiwanis Club is dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time by supporting causes like health and nutrition, education and literacy, and youth leadership development.
Guests are also welcome to attend meetings at 5 p.m. on the first and third Monday of each month at The Remington Room, 8014 Safari Dr., Smyrna. For more information, email rutherfordkiwanis@gmail.com or visit murfreesborokiwanis.com.
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Murfreesboro’s Raising Cane’s restaurant, located at the new Clari Park development on Medical Center Parkway, is currently under construction, as is In-N-Out Burgers, as recently announced by Hines Global Real Estate and Developments Senior Managing Director Walter O’Shea. Additionally, construction for the planned PF Chang’s restaurant will begin soon.
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Beaman Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram at 1705 S Church St. has plans to install an electric vehicle charging station at its dealership.
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Budget Brakes will soon relocate from Broad Street to its new home on Church Street, near I-24. As part of the Town Creek project, the area along Broad Street where the buildings are being torn down will consist of a natural area featuring a stream, a bike path and room for pedestrians.
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Webuyanycar.com recently moved into the building at 2145 NW Broad St., and will take over the car lot space surrounding the building as well. The company currently has locations in at least 10 other states, with additional Tennessee locations in Franklin, Lebanon and Nashville.
In 2006, webuyanycar.com established its car valuation website and has since become one of the world’s largest buyers of automobiles from the public, aiming to eliminate much of the stress normally associated with trading in a car, the hassle of buying and placing ads, handling phone calls and emails from interested buyers, payment, loan approval delays, and having to rearrange a schedule in order to meet with potential buyers just to sell a car, according to the company.
Murfreesboro dealership hours are from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday (open until 8 p.m. on Thursdays) and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday. For more information, call 615-619-2482 or visit webuyanycarusa.com.
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Owner of Veterans Pressure Washing Jason Ayers recently announced that Retired U.S. Navy Chief David Smallwood would take over the business. With experience as the business’s operations manager, Smallwood already has experience in overseeing Veterans’ daily operations and crews, commercial and residential accounts, among other duties.
“Just like all military posts/bases, sometimes there’s changes in command. After extensive negotiations Jason has entered into a contractual buyout. Effective immediately, David Smallwood (Retired U.S. Navy Chief) is taking over the reins of Veterans Pressure Washing,” according to a post from Ayers.
The business offers pressure washing for the whole home, roof and concrete, as well as dryer vent cleaning, wood sealing and staining, and commercial work.
VPW serves the Cannon, Rutherford and Williamson County areas. For more information, visit veteranspressurewashing.com or call 615-478-8063 for a free estimate.
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Massey Services, a leader in the pest management industry, recently announced its acquisition of Synergy Pest Control of Murfreesboro after entering the Nashville market earlier this year.
“We are pleased to welcome the team members and customers from Synergy Pest Control to the Massey Services organization,” said President and CEO of Massey Services Tony Massey. “Synergy Pest Control of Murfreesboro has been providing superior pest and termite services in the Tennessee market for more than 10 years. We look forward to continuing to provide our commitment to total customer satisfaction and environmentally responsible services.”
Massey Services was founded in 1985 in Orlando, and is one of the largest family-owned companies in the pest management and services, with more than 850,000 customers across nine states. Massey Services and its subsidiary organizations employ more than 2,800 team members who provide residential and commercial pest prevention, termite protection, and landscape and irrigation services to customers from 180 service centers throughout Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Tennessee, Texas, South Carolina, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Virginia. For more information, visit masseyservices.com.
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The Rutherford Arts Alliance recently announced the appointment of Jeff Lysyczyn as its first executive director. Jeff brings a wealth of experience and excitement to the Alliance from the music industry as a creative who has managed creatives for many years. This experience will allow him to reach many in the county who need direction in how to contribute to the arts locally.
Lysyczyn has been active for more than 25 years as an artist manager, major-label staffer, PR and marketing consultant, and staff songwriter. He is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University and Finger Lakes Community College in Canandaigua, New York, where he majored in audio recording and music theory. He also co-founded Big Show Music Co. in 2007, which reinvigorated the careers of several veteran recording artists and launched the careers of many developing talents, working with Joe Diffie, Alex Williams, Lorrie Morgan, Raul Malo, Restless Heart, Mickie James and others. He also served as an adjunct instructor in the Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business at Belmont University and is host of the “Music Business After Dark” vlog.
“I’ve made a living and a life of advocating for and nurturing artists for as long as I can remember,” Lysyczyn said. “Art matters!”
Some of his first responsibilities include increasing the membership and volunteer base of RAA, grant writing, and fundraising.
Rutherford Arts Alliance works to promote Rutherford County as a cultural and heritage community and destination. For more information, visit rutherfordartsalliance.org.
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A team of 11 linemen from Middle Tennessee Electric took a nearly three-week volunteer trip to Jalapa, Guatemala, where they utilized their skills and expertise to establish electricity in a rural part of the country.
MTE’s linemen accompanied crews from three Alabama electric cooperatives in partnership with National Rural Electric Cooperative Association International, an organization that has worked to electrify unserved areas worldwide for over 50 years. They were joined by the local electric municipality Empresa Eléctrica Municipal de Jalapa to complete the first phase of the El Cedral Community Electrification Project.
“This was an incredible opportunity, adventure and experience. Working in Guatemala presented a new level of challenges,” said Brad Nattress, an MTE working service foreman who went on the trip. “I got to work with a great group of guys from MTE and gained new friends from the Alabama crews. We all pulled together, and it was worth it.”
The crews worked to build nearly five miles of overhead line in a community that previously had no electrical infrastructure. Work was difficult due to the mountainous terrain and lack of equipment, requiring significant manual labor to dig and hoist poles. The work resulted in power for 17 homes and a church.
“I am incredibly proud of my teammates who volunteered to spend time away from their loved ones to help establish a basic human need for these families,” said MTE President and CEO Chris Jones. “I know it was challenging, tiring work, but it will truly be life-changing for this community.”
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Read to Succeed was one of 183 outstanding Middle Tennessee recipients of the Nashville Predators’ Helper Grant in 2024, and a special grant ceremony was held at the Ford Ice Center Bellevue in late May.
“The grant money we provide will be used to fund projects and programs benefiting youth and their families in Nashville and Middle Tennessee,” said Nashville Predators Vice President of Community Relations Rebecca King.
RTS received $5,000 for its family and adult literacy programs, which will provide support for their program events and services including Family Literacy Nights, Imagination Stations, Adult Basic Education, and English as Second Language classes.
“We are immensely grateful to the Nashville Predators Foundation for their generous grant, which allows us to continue our literacy mission. This support will enable us to provide resources to children and adults in the community, fostering a love of reading and learning. Thank you for helping us make a positive impact,” said Read to Succeed’s Executive Director Jolene Radnoti.
For more information on Read to Succeed, visit readtosucceed.org; for more on Predators’ Helper Grant program and applying for future grants, visit nhl.com/predators/community/foundation/helper-grants.
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CLOSINGS
Century 21 Music and More sustained serious water damage following the storms in early May and has since been closed to restore and rebuild the location. The business owners recently announced that some of the finishing touches are being worked on, including tearing up the old flooring and adding new flooring as well as new walls. It is expected to reopen soon, although a date has not yet been announced. For updates, visit facebook.com/century21musicandmore.
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The City of Murfreesboro’s plans for its Daylighting of Town Creek project will affect the Longhorn Liquor building at 223 NW Broad St., which will soon close its doors to the public. According to originally announced plans, the building was not expected to be affected, but the city later determined that it would purchase the land and demolish Longhorn Liquor as part of the project, as it did with neighboring buildings.
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Dainty Dani’s plant and vintage shop announced that it will close its storefront located at 319 N. Front St. A Facebook post stated that the “plantique” will not be renewing its lease in its current location, and until they secure a new location, plan for the business to be mobile. Shoppers can stop by the store through July 27 for discounts on plants, accessories, store displays, checkout counter and decor. For more information, find the store at facebook.com/daintydanishouseplants.
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Camille’s Department Store Outlet, previously located at 402 W. Northfield Blvd., has closed after nearly a decade in business at its physical storefront, and three additional years operating online. The business owners, Leslie “Camille” and Jason Arkenberg, announced their new direction, Camille’s Healthcare Consulting, three months after the department store’s last day. Camille now dedicates her time to offering her clients the highest levels of protection to fit their needs and budget, with access to the tools necessary to create a custom-built policy for those interested. For more information, visit facebook.com/camillesdeal.
