La Cucina Italiana has opened at 451 N. Thompson Ln. The new restaurant offers authentic Italian cuisine in a welcoming family atmosphere. The menu includes a variety of sandwich and pasta options, with Monday nights featuring a special pasta promotion that provides a salad, pasta, soft drink and dessert option for only $13.99. La Cucina Italiana also offers chicken dishes, burgers, seafood, salads and soups. Hours are Monday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

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The team behind Casa Adobe Express, which operates a restaurant at 1433A Warrior Dr., will open another Murfreesboro eatery. The new one, located at 1813 Memorial Blvd., next to Little Caesars Pizza (and within the former location of The Clay Pit), will be known as Che Taqueria.

Casa Adobe Express offers made-in-house agua frescas, build-your-own tortilla-based meals, shrimp and fish tacos, chips, dips, salsas, soup and salad options, and a handful of dessert options including xango, which is a creamy cheesecake wrapped in a pastry tortilla, lightly fried to a golden brown, and sprinkled with cinnamon and tortilla. For more information, visit casaadobeexpress.com.

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Sweet Cece’s’ former location at The Avenue will soon house the Milkshake Factory. The Milkshake Factory began in 1914 as a gourmet chocolate company in Pennsylvania that later started offering milkshakes crafted with house-made ice cream. In addition, the shake shop offers a variety of sundae flavors, classic and dairy-free shakes, root beer floats, and gourmet limited-time flavors. For more information, visit milkshakefactory.com.

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Frida’s Cafe has opened at 1798 W. Northfield Blvd., with hours from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, and Saturday and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. The restaurant is decorated with vibrant art and portraits of Frida Kahlo, paying tribute to the famous Mexican artist.

The restaurant offers a variety of breakfast options, from oatmeal and omelets to ham & cheese and vegetarian crepes. The cafe also offers specialty coffees and mocha drinks, fresh squeezed juices, dinner options, Mexican sodas, shakes and more. For more information, find Frida’s Cafe on Facebook.

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Smyrna will soon become home to a new boba, tea, candy and coffee shop called Candy Cloud, located at 801 Industrial Blvd. The new shop offers canned-to-order drinks from homemade horchata to specialty frappes, lemonades and caffeinated drinks.

The Candy Cloud idea began in 2019, shortly after founders Alex and Paityn Edwards suffered the loss of their daughter, Evelyn.

“In those dark days following their loss, something unexpected brought a glimmer of hope: the steady stream of flower arrangements from loved ones, each delivery a gentle reminder that beauty could still bloom in the midst of darkness. Inspired by these floral gifts that had brought them comfort, Alex and Paityn started Evelyn’s Acre, growing flowers in their backyard and selling them from a renovated trailer at local farmers markets,” according to the business.

While selling flowers, Paityn had the vision to spin happiness out of thin air and begin offering fresh cotton candy. In 2022, the family opened their own physical storefront—eventually offering Hawaiian shave ice, horchata, strawberry lemonade and iced coffee—followed by franchises, including the upcoming Smyrna one, the first in Tennessee. For more information, visit candycloudcompany.com.

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Ten Seconds Yunnan Rice Noodles has opened at 836 N. Thompson Ln., offering authentic Chinese meal options including dim sum, stir fries, lots of warm and cold noodle dishes, soups, squid skewers and more. Hours are from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. For more information, visit tensecondsricenoodletn.kwickmenu.com.

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Hemispheres Wine Bar, a new addition to downtown Murfreesboro, has opened at 208 W. Main St. The business will celebrate its ribbon-cutting ceremony on Nov. 14.

“What began as a vision shared around a kitchen table on a warm summer evening in 2022 has blossomed into a wine bar that promises to deliver a global experience to the community,” according to information from Hemispheres. “Over the next several months, the team carefully reviewed four potential locations, weighing the advantages and challenges of each. After countless hours of planning, market research, and discussions, they found their perfect home on the historic square in Murfreesboro.”

Owned and operated by the team of Lisa Davis, Autumn Eklond, Tammy Stump and Susan Davis, Hemispheres offers lounge seating for intimate gatherings, table seating for food and drinks, and bar seating for casual experiences.

Each quarter, Hemispheres Wine Bar will highlight and offer wines from a different region. Hours are Monday and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

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Dutch Bros. continues work on its third Murfreesboro location near Victory Station on Franklin Road. This comes in addition to the coffee company’s other locations at 3255 Memorial Blvd., currently in operation, and 1950 Old Fort Pkwy., itself currently under construction.

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Los Churrascos has opened at 1668 Memorial Blvd. in the restaurant space that formerly hosted El Cubilete. This location is in addition to the restaurant’s Nashville location at 2500 Murfreesboro Pk. The Guatamalan-themed restaurant offers a variety of nacho options, quesadillas, churrascos, fajitas, chimichangas and more. Hours are Monday through Thursday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. For more information, call 615-962-8437.

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Tyler Campbell, owner of Kettle Corn Classic, has been exploring plans to open a brick-and-mortar store on Franklin Road, near Mr. Brews and Teriyaki Madness.

“The idea for Kettle Classic came to me while attending a farmers’ market. I was at my produce stand and smelled the sweetest aroma in the air. It was kettle corn! There was a vendor there who gave me a sample and I was hooked,” according to Campbell. “Being the food lover that I am, I was convinced that I wanted to perfect this delicious treat and share it with others. Since then, I have been dedicated to making the best kettle corn around.”

Visit kettlecornclassic.com for more information on the business.

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The Smyrna coffeeshop at 15 N. Lowry St., Smyrna, formerly known as Red Bicycle and then Depot Drips, will soon be Subculture. With an existing location on Nolensville Pike in Nashville, Subculture boasts a menu including burgers, salmon, chicken and waffles, tacos and ramen, as well as a full slate of coffee beverages. For more information, visit subculturecafe.com.

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TriOut Advisory Group recently announced the launch of the Thompson Lane Project, which includes a 9.5-acre commercial development on Thompson Lane near Old Fort Parkway. The site will offer potential for retail, office and hospitality use.

“The Nashville metropolitan area is booming, and Murfreesboro is quickly becoming a prime location for businesses looking to capitalize on this growth. Our Thompson Lane Project is ideally situated to meet this demand with high-quality commercial spaces,” said TriOut Advisory Group Senior Partner Mike Outlaw.

The busy intersection of Thompson Lane and Old Fort Parkway sees a traffic volume of over 63,000 vehicles per day.

The development plan includes negotiations with Wawa and City BBQ on the south side of the property, and potential fitness centers or city facilities on the north side.

TriOut Advisory Group is a real estate investment and management firm based in Florida. For more information, email info@trioutadvisorygroup.com.

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The Journey Home has broken ground on its new facility, located at 1207 Old Salem Rd. The new two-story, 20,000-square-foot building will allow the organization to offer more services to homeless in the area, including temporary housing, low-barrier healthcare, and additional general support.

The new building will offer a community cafe with space to seat 50 people, an expanded commercial kitchen, ten 300-square-foot short-term family housing units, shower stalls, secure storage lockers, a wellness clinic, a chapel, a market for personal necessities, housing coordination services and a training center.

According to The Journey Home, an estimated 4,000 people experienced homelessness in Rutherford County in 2022. This facility was designed to address the need for temporary housing for families with children, who make up more than a quarter of the unhoused population in the county, the ministry said.

“The Journey Home’s new Wellness Clinic will provide medical and mental health care to our neighbors who are often challenged by these issues, as well as a lack of insurance, finances and transportation,” said Unhoused Capital Campaign Chair Russ Galloway. “It reduces this burden on our hospitals and emergency departments.”

For more information, visit lovegodservepeople.org.

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This holiday season, Sam’s Sports Grill will once again partner with Love From Music City to host a toy and clothing drive benefiting local foster children, ages newborn to 18 years. According to the Tennessee Alliance for Kids, about 8,000 kids are in the state’s foster care system, and less than 4,000 homes are available.

Donation boxes will be available at the front of all Sam’s locations across Tennessee—including the Murfreesboro location at 1720 Old Fort Pkwy.—to collect items for the Music City Christmas Party on Dec. 8. As a thank you, guests who donate a new toy or clothing item at any location will receive a $5 Sam’s gift card for each donation.

Learn more about how Love From Music City advocates for the needs of foster children and orphans at lovefrommusiccity.com.

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President and CEO of Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital Gordon B. Ferguson has announced his decision to retire, effective at the end of June 2025. This marks the conclusion of a 26-year career at the hospital, 19 of which he served as president and CEO.

“I was fortunate to join the hospital in 1998 after learning about the great work happening here,” Ferguson said. “From the very beginning, I could see the deep commitment to the community, and I wanted to be a part of it.”

Under his leadership, the hospital experienced major growth, most notably in 2010, when the former Middle Tennessee Medical Center transitioned from Highland Avenue to its current location on Medical Center Parkway. This move expanded the hospital campus to 80 acres, leading to the addition of more than 200 beds and the introduction of high-acuity programs, including the launch of cardiovascular surgery in 2023.

“One of the most significant opportunities I faced as CEO was securing approval to build the new hospital. It took a lot of meetings and persuasion to make the vision a reality,” Ferguson said. “But looking back, opening the new campus and seeing it thrive 14 years later is one of my proudest achievements.”

As Ascension Saint Thomas begins the search for Ferguson’s successor, the focus is on finding a candidate who will continue the hospital’s growth and remain deeply connected to the community. Ferguson will stay on for one year after his retirement as vice president of community relations, focusing on key relationships with public officials and community partners, capital campaigns, and philanthropy efforts for the Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford Foundation.

When asked about his post-retirement plans, Ferguson said, “I’m looking forward to spending more time with my family, especially my granddaughter, and activities I enjoy such as swimming, cycling, boating and yard work. It’s a new chapter, and I’m excited about the opportunities it will bring.”

Ascension Saint Thomas is the only faith-based, nonprofit health system in Middle Tennessee. Its comprehensive system of care includes more than 250 sites of care that cover a 45-county area in Tennessee consisting of 16 hospitals and a network of affiliated joint ventures, medical practices, clinics and specialty facilities. For more information, visit ascension.org.

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StepStone Family and Youth Services, formerly known as Braley & Thompson, recently celebrated its rebranding and looks forward to providing services and support to foster youth in the area.

“This is an exciting time for a new name, yet the same mission,” said StepStone Family and Youth Services of Murfreesboro’s Executive Director Dr. Darian Lyons. “We will continue our mission to give children what they need in order to thrive now and beyond.”

StepStone Family & Youth Services provides the full spectrum of support to children in need of alternative, safer and more positive living environments with residential and family services. StepStone connects children and youth who need homes with foster families, as well as foster care training, respite care and support services. For young adults transitioning from foster care to independent living, StepStone provides personalized guidance and training on basic life skills, including money management, life skills and education. For more information, visit stepstoneyouth.com.

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United Way of Highway 55, along with United Way of Bedford County and United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties, recently joined to create the United Way of South Central Tennessee. This strategic partnership will enhance resources, expand reach, and strengthen the ability to serve those in need across the region.

“This partnership will allow us to have access to more internal resources, as well as increased opportunities to apply for state and federal funding that might not have been tapped into before. We are honored to be a part of United Way of South Central Tennessee and to continue the legacy of impact in our local area on an even larger scale,” said United Way of Highway 55 Board Chair Michele Simmons.

United Way of Highway 55 was founded locally in 2000 to support education, financial stability, health, and basic essentials for thousands of individuals in Coffee, Moore and Warren counties.

“We are thrilled to share the partnership between the United Way of South Central Tennessee and the Highway 55 United Way. With a larger regional footprint, our potential for resource development and outreach will benefit even more individuals and families that need assistance from our United Way,” said UWSCTN Board Chair Casey Rainey.

The organizations’ shared vision is to improve lives and strengthen communities through initiatives in education, financial stability and health. For more information, visit yourlocaluw.org.

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Premiere 6 Cinema, located at 810 NW Broad St., recently announced that its recent construction and remodeling should be complete sometime in early November. The remodel features new seats, an upscale layout, room for private events and more. The venue will also continue to host its weekly Smash Brothers tournament, and will offer space for parties and other events.

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Murfreesboro-based Sammie B’s Sweets will appear on Season 6 of the Food Network’s Holiday Wars program.

The season premiere aired on Sunday, Nov. 3.

“I had the best time with my team, Jingle Bell Ballers, whom I will introduce to you soon. This is one of the best experiences I’ve been honored with in my cookie career, and I can’t wait to share it all with you guys,” said Sammie B’s Sweets owner Samantha Baughman. “Tune in and watch as we make incredible holiday displays!”

Baughman is a self-taught, award-winning cookie artist and educator who has also appeared on the Food Network’s Christmas Cookie Challenge. She also runs Operation Cookie Takeover, a project that sends thousands of cookies all over the world to deployed troops. She’s a six-time CookieCon Instructor, and is currently in the process of developing online courses. Learn more at sammiebssweets.com.

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World Outreach Church has applied to rezone its New Salem Highway campus from Residential to Commercial zoning. The reclassification would eliminate the need for any additional special-use permits from the Board of Zoning Appeals for any future expansion.

The church is requesting to rezone its 92 acres from RS-15 (Single-Family Residential, 15,000 square-foot lot size minimum) to CH (Commercial Highway). World Outreach Church is currently allowed in the RS-15 district by special-use permit. The church has obtained special-use permits on three occasions in 2003, 2007 and 2012 to complete additions for additional parking, a building and parking expansion, and outdoor speakers, respectively.

The CH district would permit the existing church by right, eliminating the need for additional special-use permits, according to the Murfreesboro Planning Department.

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BUSINESS CLOSINGS:

Delicias Colombianas has closed its restaurant location at 2042 Lascassas Pk., but will continue to operate its food truck in Murfreesboro and surrounding areas. For more information, visit deliciascolombianarr.com.

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After seven years serving Murfreesboro, Burger Republic has closed its doors to the public, but the brand will continue to maintain its Nashville and Mt. Juliet locations. A specific reason for the closure at Murfreesboro’s Fountains at Gateway was not announced, but locals suggest that the restaurant was never the same post-Covid, with the restaurant implementing different ordering procedures, removing fan favorites from the menu, and raising basic burger prices.

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The Tasting Room in Smyrna announced that it will close its doors on Nov. 2. The Tasting Room’s Chef Robert Fuller brought fine dining to the former Omni Hut building (618 S. Lowry St., Smyrna) in 2021, with its tapas-style menu available in tasting sizes and full-size portions, along with an extensive wine menu.