M.L. Rose has opened its first Murfreesboro location at 2108 Medical Center Pkwy. The restaurant, known for its extensive craft beer list and gourmet burgers, was founded in Nashville in 2008 and has since opened seven more locations including the Murfreesboro restaurant.
The new location includes a heated and covered dog-friendly patio with several TVs, brunch service on Saturday and Sunday until 2 p.m. including two-for-one mimosas and bloody Marys, Tuesday Trivia at 7:30 p.m. each week, and a happy hour from 3 to 6 p.m. offering $4 beers, seltzers and ciders; $5 well drinks and wines; and $6 starters. Hours are 11 a.m. to midnight Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to midnight on Saturday and Sunday. Visit mlrose.com for more information.
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Chick-fil-A has announced plans to open another Murfreesboro location, this one in the Savannah Ridge Marketplace located at the intersection of South Church Street and Joe B. Jackson Parkway. The new restaurant will feature two drive-thru lanes and a 5,183-square-foot building; site plans suggest that the restaurant will focus primarily on traffic flow design consistent with Chick-fil-A’s newer restaurants.
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Clay Oven Indian Cuisine has opened at 710 Memorial Blvd., Ste. 220, in the former Chutney’s space. The new restaurant owners will focus on a buffet filled with regional Indian dishes, updated recipes and fresh Tandoor dishes, with a refreshed restaurant interior. Hours are 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and 5 to 9:30 p.m. every day. For more information, visit clay-oven.com.
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Coffee Haus has opened in the former Curries restaurant space near M.L. Rose and West 22 Tacos at 2108 Medical Center Pkwy. Coffee Haus offers a variety of coffee drinks, waffles and mini pancakes, acai bowls, sandwiches and ice cream options. The restaurant is organized to offer seating designed for studying as well as socializing. Hours are Sunday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
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Bricks & Minifigs Murfreesboro will celebrate its grand opening on Saturday, Dec. 13, at 11 a.m. at its new location within the Oaks Shopping Center at 510 N. Thompson Ln. The new store is owned and operated by local residents Robert and Stacey Handy and marks the couple’s first Bricks & Minifigs franchise location.
Bricks & Minifigs specializes in the resale and trade of new and used LEGO sets, bulk bricks and minifigures. The store offers an ever-changing selection of LEGOs for sale, as well as a dedicated event space, after-school robotics clubs, Brick Derby races, make-and-take build packages and more. At the heart of the Bricks & Minifigs brand are its three core principles: Rebuild, Reuse and Reimagine.
“I’m thrilled to bring the Bricks & Minifigs experience to our community,” Robert Handy said. “LEGO is more than just a toy—it’s a timeless form of creative expression that resonates with kids, parents, grandparents and adult collectors.”
To celebrate the grand opening, the first 100 customers will receive a Bricks & Minifigs totebag. Additional giveaways, in-store specials and surprise activities will be happening throughout the day. Customers who book a party or event during grand opening weekend will receive 10% off standard rental rates.
Special guests Niki Loheit and Brittain, fan-favorite contestants from LEGO Masters, will make an appearance during the grand opening.
Founded in Portland, Oregon, in 2009, Bricks & Minifigs now operates dozens of franchised stores across North America and Canada, with more locations opening each year. In 2021, the company was named one of Entrepreneur Magazine’s Top 500 Franchises, ranking as the #2 children’s retail brand.
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In-N-Out Burger will soon officially open its Middle Tennessee locations. After much anticipation, the California burger joint will open its restaurants on South Hartmann Drive in Lebanon and William Turner Parkway in Antioch on Wednesday, Dec. 10. Then on Friday, Dec. 12, the Medical Center Parkway location in Murfreesboro opens.
In-N-Out has reached agreements for temporary overflow parking areas to alleviate heavy traffic congestion on Medical Center Parkway during its grand opening and the following months. The parking areas will include a space at Willowoak Trail and Robert Rose Drive, as well as a second area on land at the intersection of Willowoak Trail and Wilkinson Pike. The restaurant will have access to these two locations for up to 120 days.
These zones are designed to prevent spillover into public roadways, protect major intersections, and maintain safe traffic flow. In-N-Out openings in other states have seen hour-long lines stretching onto adjacent streets. Murfreesboro officials expect a significant turnout on opening day and early weeks.
All In-N-Out Burger restaurants are open from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 1:30 a.m., Friday and Saturday.
Each restaurant will have one drive-thru lane, indoor seating for 74 customers and a covered patio with outdoor seating for about 30 people.
Each restaurant will employ about 75 workers with additional hiring expected in the coming months, according to In-N-Out’s corporate office. Starting wage for In-N-Out is $17.50 per hour.
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Black Frog Arms has opened at 915 N. Thompson Ln. Black Frog Arms offers a variety of firearms and ammunition, accessories, personal defense products and more. Hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. Visit blackfrogarms.com for more information.
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Horseshoe Barcade has opened at 2333 Memorial Blvd. and offers a unique gaming experience complete with a bar-and-grill atmosphere. Posted hours are from noon to 10 p.m. daily.
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Franklin’s Fruit Tea has been awarded $50,000 at a national pitch competition created by artist, producer, entrepreneur and cultural visionary Pharrell Williams, whose influence spans music, fashion, innovation and philanthropy. The finals were held during mid-November in Miami, and out of more than 2,500 applicants, Franklin’s Fruit Tea advanced to the top six companies in the nation, earning company principals the opportunity to take the stage and present their business before a distinguished panel of judges, investors and national partners.
Co-founded by husband-and-wife team Mylikia and Germayle Franklin, Franklin’s Fruit Tea has grown from a local festival favorite to a regional beverage company, now sold in select Kroger stores within the Nashville area, JR’s Foodland, Compton’s Foodland, Mike’s Foodland, various convenience store locations, Dwight’s Mini Market at Middle Tennessee State University, and inside the Tennessee Tribune Marketplace at Nashville International Airport.
The $50,000 award marks a major milestone for the Tennessee-based company as it accelerates production, expands cold-storage capacity, and prepares for broader retail distribution. Franklin’s Fruit Tea crafts small-batch beverages using fresh brewed tea and fruit purees, offering flavors including Liquid Gold, Mango Peach, Strawberry, Peach Papaya Tea, Wild Berry Tea, Strawberry Peach Lemonade, Peach Papaya Lemonade, Wild Berry Lemonade, Classic Southern Lemonade, and a Tea-and-Lemonade Half and Half.
“Winning this award is a turning point for our business,” said Mylikia Franklin. “It affirms the work we have done and helps us continue scaling so we can bring joy to even more communities.”
Co-Founder Germayle Franklin first created the original fruit tea recipe while he was a student-athlete at MTSU. What began in a college apartment kitchen and at local festivals has grown into a Tennessee favorite known for flavor, tradition and community connection. As demand continues to rise, Franklin’s Fruit Tea is now open to conversations with aligned investors and strategic partners who share its commitment to quality, community and long-term expansion across the Southeast and beyond.
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La Vergne’s Waldron Station has announced plans for a new 76.5-acre mixed-use development including 208,000 square feet of commercial space provided for retail, restaurants and medical space; 16 single-family homes, 38 townhomes, 578 multi-family units, a town center, parks, greenways, sidewalks and about 25% of the space dedicated to providing an open/green space for community use.
The project is expected to help create 1,500 jobs and generate $5.3 billion in economic impact over the next 20 years. It will be located near Waldron Road and Blair Road. Waldron Station is designed as a self-contained community where residents will be able to live, shop, dine and access services all within walking or short-drive distance.
The developer plans to invest up to $17.6 million, to be reimbursed over time through Tax Increment Financing (TIF), ensuring improvements to roads, utilities, parking and storm-water systems, are financed by the growth the project brings rather than burdening existing taxpayers. The project is expected to begin early 2026, with completion expected by 2031 at the latest.
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Local business owner Manuel Cervera has filed plans to construct a 1,364 square foot facility for Manny’s Towing on Elam Farms Parkway, located just off Joe B. Jackson Parkway. The project includes a service building and a secure storage yard, adding additional towing and recovery capacity to southeast Murfreesboro’s industrial zone.
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AutoZone plans to build another area location of its auto parts store, set for South Rutherford Boulevard, in between the Speedway gas station and Cobalt Row, across from StorPlace Self Storage (in between the Walmart development and Bradyville Pike).
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Devon Rideout has purchased a property that will be dedicated to assisting women in crisis situations. The home is rented out to Doors of Hope, a Murfreesboro residential program for women coming out of incarceration, addiction and homelessness. Doors of Hope will rent out each room to one of the graduates of its alumni program, which will assist those with felonies, no credit, and no substantial savings in finding a home.
“Our goal is to remove those barriers for these women so they can gain sustainability to continue to work towards their goals and to contribute back to society,” Rideout said.
“I am hosting a furnishing party and calling all of Murfreesboro together to donate gently used home goods and furniture to fully furnish this home for three new women who will be entering the home Dec. 20, just in time for Christmas! People can also donate directly to Doors of Hope or contribute Amazon gift cards for more home goods needed to make this home a warm inviting place when they move in,” she said in a statement to the Pulse.
Items needed include home goods, furniture, kitchenware, bathroom essentials, hangers and more. Clothing is not needed, however. Contact Devon Rideout at devonrideout19@gmail.com or text 757-289-9779 for a detailed list of needs or questions.
Donations can be made by dropping off suitable items during the weekends of Dec. 6 and 7 and Dec. 13 and 14 at 1003 Tyler Rd. in Murfreesboro, off of Bradyville Pike. Those interested can bring used belongings to the doorstep of the address listed during the weekend; there will also be a tent set up on the driveway with a table to leave things on. Please reach out to the provided contact information if you have items that are too large or can not be left outside. Items not used will be donated or sold to put on gift cards and offered to the alumni to pay for home essentials they may need.
For more information on Doors of Hope, visit opendoorsofhope.org.
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Developers have revised plans for the One East College project, at the downtown Murfreesboro city block formerly the site of the First Methodist Church. Plans still include a mix of condominiums, office space, retail outlets and parking, as well as the preservation of the historic sanctuary, but without the hotel component.
Developers first unveiled plans for the property years ago, and negotiated its acquisition from the city. A Facebook page for the One East College project remains live, showcasing grand plans for the Murfreesboro city block, but that page appears to have been abandoned since 2019 and little activity has occurred at the site since.
In 2024 the city began the process of condemning and reclaiming the property, but now, nearing 2026, the Murfreesboro City Council expects to see updated plans for the site soon.
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Middle Tennessee State University broke ground Dec. 3 on its new state-of-the-art aerospace facility in Shelbyville, marking a major step forward for one of the nation’s most highly recognized aerospace and aviation programs.
MTSU’s Shelbyville operation plans will result in an aviation hub that addresses the need for expansion and growth of the Department of Aerospace and its exploding pilot training program—while also meeting an important aviation industry need. Supported by $73.4 million in combined federal, state and university funding, this new base of operations will provide a permanent home for all MTSU aircraft. With new hangars, classrooms, offices and ramp space, the project will accommodate future fleet expansion and offer dedicated instructional spaces for training the next generation of aviation leaders.
“The new flight training facility in Shelbyville represents much more than an expanded hangar and new classrooms. It reflects our unwavering commitment to safety, exceptional instruction, and giving every student the space and resources they need to train,” said Greg Van Patten, dean of the MTSU College of Basic and Applied Sciences.
“It’s also a commitment to this region. In partnership with the city of Shelbyville and Bedford County, we are building an aviation hub that will create new workforce pipelines and fuel economic development for Tennessee.”
About 15 planes and 85 to 100 aerospace professional pilot students are already utilizing a temporary facility at the Shelbyville Airport for flight training. Many of MTSU’s flight training, educational programs and aviation maintenance instruction will remain at the Murfreesboro Airport until the new Shelbyville facilities are complete, expected following a 24-month construction period. For more information on the MTSU Aerospace Department, visit aerospace.mtsu.edu.
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CLOSING
Owners of Hickory Falls Wood-Fired Grille in Smyrna announced on Facebook, “We have made the very personal decision to retire and close.”
The restaurant’s last day in operation will be Dec. 27.
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Four Middle Tennessee Whataburger locations will soon close, including the Murfreesboro location at 1924 Memorial Blvd. that opened in 2022.
A Mt. Juliet location and two locations in Clarksville will also close.
A statement from the company said: “While we continue to grow in the Nashville area, we’ve made the decision to close four of our 24 restaurants in the area. This decision helps focus our efforts where we can make the biggest impact, ensuring our guests continue to enjoy the high-quality, delicious food and genuine hospitality they’ve come to expect from Whataburger.”
“In 2026 and beyond, guests will find new Whataburger locations opening through Nashville area including our newest location off Gallatin Ave. in a couple of months.”
Whataburger still operates two other Murfreesboro locations at 1835 Old Fort Pkwy. and 2814 Medical Center Pkwy.
