Rooster and Lori Beane have opened Beane Brothers BBQ at 114 Front St., Smyrna, after overhauling the former downtown Smyrna home of La Tavola. Find Texas-style brisket, ribs, pulled pork, chicken breast, turkey breast, jalapeño cheese sausage and beef sausage. Beane Brothers also serves onion straws, spicy cowboy beans, hand-cut fries, fried okra, green beans, potato salad and other house-made menu items.

The Beanes have a proud history in barbecue, in Texas and in Tennessee, operating various restaurants and event venues (including Rooster’s Lone Star BBQ in downtown Murfreesboro for a brief time), and in catering and family functions. Beane has been a preferred caterer with the NFL for many years. His brother, Aubrey “Judge” Beane, founded the popular Judge Bean’s in Nashville, which continues to operate a Brentwood location. Aubrey passed away in 2022, and Rooster aims to keep the brothers’ legacy alive with the new Smyrna restaurant.

Beane Brothers BBQ is open Monday through Wednesday 10:30 a.m.–7 p.m., Thursday through Saturday 10:30 a.m.–8 p.m., and Sunday 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Visit beanebrothersbbq.com for more information.

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Buffalo Wild Wings is set to open a new to-go location—Buffalo Wild Wings GO, at 2943 S. Rutherford Blvd., Ste. E., across from the Walmart. BWW GO is a scaled-down concept which features a takeout and delivery-focused version of the company’s traditional sports bar. It offers a core selection of wings, tenders, fries and a few other popular menu items rather than offering the entire menu, and prioritizes faster cook and delivery times. It is expected to open early December.

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Krustaceans Seafood has opened at 2858 S. Church St. The restaurant, which has been in the works for the past few months, recently opened its doors to the public after much anticipation among local seafood lovers. Krustaceans is located in the former Sauce building, and is open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. A few menu options include fried shrimp and fish, lobster tail, Krab Clusters and more. Visit krustaceansnashville.com for more information.

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Las Trojas Cantina will open its new Murfreesboro location with a soft opening on Monday, Nov. 3, at noon. The restaurant invites the community to stop by during its initial opening phase and plans to announce an official grand opening celebration at a later date.

Located at 3105 Medical Center Pkwy. near The Avenue, the Murfreesboro restaurant marks another Tennessee expansion for the regional brand, which first opened in 2005. After several construction delays, owners say they are eager to welcome guests and begin full operations once staff training is complete.

Las Trojas Cantina features a menu of traditional Mexican favorites—enchiladas, fajitas, tacos and sizzling skillet dishes—served alongside a wide range of cocktails, beer and specialty margaritas. The restaurant’s signature drink, the Margarona, blends the house margarita with an upside-down bottle of Corona for what the team calls “the perfect mix of bold flavor and refreshing taste.”

Follow Las Trojas Cantina – Murfreesboro on Facebook for more information.

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Emerald Heart Cafe & Dispensary (810 NW Broad St., Suite 212) has opened its kitchen, now serving sandwiches, pizzas, items made with honey from Emerald Heart owners Matt and Christina Minks’ beehives, smoothies, and other items. The restaurant will soon add cannabis-infused food items to the menu.

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Domenico’s Italian Deli will open a second restaurant location in addition to its current restaurant, which is located at 106 S. Maple St. The new restaurant will be located at 1602 W. Northfield Blvd. in the Georgetown Plaza near Station Grill and Five Senses. It will offer a large parking lot for those concerned about the sometimes-tight parking situation downtown. The restaurant is expected to open early November.

Domenico’s specializes in authentic Italian deli sandwiches, potato and pasta salads, desserts, freshly made sandwich trays and box lunches, and customizable catering options for any occasion. Visit domenicosdelitn.com to place an order.

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Scoopy’s Ice Cream, which closed its Broad Street location within Jackson Heights over the summer, will open a new ice cream shop in the former Dos Rancheros building located at 2458 Old Fort Pkwy. An opening date has not been announced, but a banner with the business name has been placed on the building. Scoopy’s features ice cream made in-house in La Michoacana’s best-selling flavors.

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The Grand Exchange has opened at 21 S. Public Square. The unique little shop offers books and gifts, plants, local goods and in-person classes according to its Facebook page. Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday thru Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and closed on Sunday. Find the Grand Exchange on Facebook for more information.

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Nashville-based Schultz Monument Company will open a new Murfreesboro location within the Cason Lane shopping center also home to Catfeine, SaBaiDee Cafe and OishiYa.

The full-service gravestone and monument retailer offers granite and marble memorials, bronze markers and plaques, statuary and commercial signage. Schultz Monument, locally owned by Pam and Richard Schultz, stocks a wide variety of different granite colors.

For more information, visit schultzmonument.com.

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M.L.Rose Neighborhood Pub will welcome guests to its new Murfreesboro restaurant, located at 2108 Medical Center Pkwy., on Monday, Nov. 24, at 4 p.m., announced founder Austin Ray. This marks the eighth location of the locally owned group of pubs.

The menu includes an array of shareable snacks, crispy, beer-braised wings, fresh salads and sandwiches, classic and creative craft burgers, chicken tenders and M.L.Rose’s signature crispy waffle fries.

“M.L.Rose and craft beer are synonymous, but we have expanded and evolved with our guests,” said Ray. “A Neighborhood Pub is a place where a cocktail, a Michelob Ultra, and the trendiest local hazy IPA can all coexist in harmony.”

Hours are 11 a.m.–11 p.m. Monday–Wednesday, 11 a.m.–12 a.m. Thursday–Friday, 10 a.m.–12 a.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m.–11 p.m. Sunday. Specials include “Neighbor Hour” Monday through Wednesday from 3–6 p.m. when diners can enjoy 2-for-1 drinks, cheeseburgers and chicken tenders.

Learn more at mlrose.com.

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Middle Tennessee State University has announced the formation of the Lightning Zone Committee, comprised of university trustees, prominent alumni and local elected officials, to steer a $119 million renovation of the historic Murphy Center arena and to shepherd creation of a nearby entertainment and retail district.

The Tennessee General Assembly approved $78 million earlier this year for the project, an effort with dual focus on both MTSU athletics and the broader Murfreesboro community. The Lightning Zone will be a place where students, residents and visitors can walk from housing to games or concerts, then to dining and entertainment—aiming to anchor campus and community growth.

The architectural firm Goodwyn Mills Cawood has been selected to design the renovations and surrounding district amenities.

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Travel center chain Buc-ee’s formally kicked off construction on its upcoming 76,000-plus-square-foot facility in Murfreesboro. The site, located at the interchange of Interstate 24 and Joe B. Jackson Parkway, is slated to feature approximately 120 gasoline pumps, electric-vehicle charging stations and thousands of feet of convenience-and-snack retail space.

Officials say the project will bring 200 full-time jobs to Rutherford County and serve as a new regional destination for travelers.

Nearby infrastructure work is already underway; the realignment of Elam Road and the Butler Drive connection—both required for improved ingress/egress—is near completion, and major construction on the store structure itself is expected through mid-2026.

This Murfreesboro location of Buc-ee’s, known for its “destination” convenience-store format—from brisket sandwiches and fresh fudge to “Beaver Nuggets,” branded merchandise and usually very clean bathrooms—will be its closest to Nashville to date.

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The Murfreesboro-based nonprofit The Journey Home has celebrated the grand opening of its new facility, located at 1207 Old Salem Rd., designed to significantly expand its support for the unhoused and at-risk in Rutherford County. The new building will include 10 short-term family housing units, a wellness clinic with expanded medical and mental health services, a community cafe and on-site job training and housing-coordination resources.

The organization, which has served Rutherford County for nearly two decades, says it provided more than 55,000 meals in 2024 and hopes the new facility will help break cycles of homelessness by offering a “pathway out” rather than simply emergency aid.

For more information or to volunteer or donate, visit lovegodservepeople.org.

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Rutherford County is progressing on a deal to purchase the former Bank of America building, located on East Main Street near the Murfreesboro Public Square, for approximately $9.2 million.

If finalized, the building will house the Rutherford County Election Commission, the Codes Department, and Planning & Engineering offices, according to reports.

This would shift the current building owner’s potential and somewhat controversial plans for a hotel, office space and penthouse living development at the former bank site. The property was purchased for $3.4 million by MAC 3 Properties about three years ago; the potential sale is valued at over $9 million.

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The Rutherford County Library System has announced an out-of-county library card program, which is available to those not residing within Rutherford County. The new program will begin on Nov. 3, and will provide library resource access to individuals outside of Rutherford County. Participation will cost an annual fee of $25, and is expected to provide more community access while also promoting literacy and learning across region boundaries.

Those interested in an out-of-county library card are required to provide proper identification, while existing Rutherford County residents with a library card will retain free access to library services with no change to current services. For more information visit rclstn.org.

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Construction has begun for another Murfreesboro Wawa location, this one at the corner of Bradyville Pike and South Rutherford Boulevard, after the company broke ground on its first area location in early August. Wawa says it plans to open at least 50 stations across Middle Tennessee within the next 10 years. More info to come.

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Murphy Oil will open a new convenience store and gasoline canopy with 16 fuel pumps at Lascassas Pike and North Rutherford Boulevard. In addition, a new Valvoline Instant Oil Change, Aldi and a daycare will open in the area.

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CLOSED

In early October, Ms. Marian’s Cafe on East Main Street near MTSU closed suddenly; although the cooler remained stocked with bottles filled with various colors of Kool-Aid, the door was locked and power to the building had been cut off, according to a note on the door from Middle Tennessee Electric. However, according to a post on the Ms. Marian’s Cafe Facebook page, the restaurant plans to reopen in November.

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Soul Murfreesboro, located at 2804 S. Rutherford Blvd., appears to have closed. The restaurant itself did not announce a reason for closure, but much of the equipment in the building has been removed.