EAST SIDE STORY

The neighborhood of East Nashville rebounds from a series of natural disasters thanks to its tight-knit creative community.

BY MARGARET LITTMAN

On March 3, 2020 an EF3 tornado touched down in several Nashville neighborhoods and Middle Tennessee communities. It was not the first time East Nashville had been hit by a tornado. In 1933 and 1998 rotating storms blew through the same area, ripping off roofs and causing structural damage. But this time, such a storm came barreling down Main Street just 10 days before lockdown in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

While statistically these storms have claimed relatively low fatalities, they have been significant in the damage they caused, in the rebuilding they ushered in and the way in which they underscored the neighborhood’s small-town feel in the middle of a growing city.

Nothing happens in a vacuum, of course. The rebuilding after the 1998 tornado was in conjunction with the NFL’s Tennessee Titans (then the Tennessee Oilers) coming to town and the opening of what is now called Nissan Stadium, a major attraction that revitalized the east side of the river. In 2020, the neighborhood, dotted with small businesses, pivoted. Restaurants with intact kitchens loaned freezer space to those that lost theirs. Artists and seamstresses made masks while musicians played drivein shows so live music could continue.

Since the neighborhood, city and county have rebounded, you can experience East Nashville’s tight community and off-beat esprit de corps by simply wandering its streets, many of which are lined with historical and restored homes. Should you choose to be intentional about your exploration, consider the following stops. Most of them are within walking distance of the neighborhood’s famous Five Points intersection.

DRINK

By the Bottle (instagram.com/bythebottleurbancowboy). This all-natural wine shop serves everything, as its name suggests, by the bottle only. The friendly space is designed for you to share a bottle with a friend over a leisurely conversation on the shaded patio. Owner Kate Cunningham wants to make wine less intimidating, so ask her anything.

Attaboy (attaboy.us/nashville). Experience the city’s most refined cocktail experience. This small bar suffered after the tornado when one of its beloved employees and his partner were killed in the storm. The bar is rebuilt, and it reopened with the same custom crafted cocktail experience, a new roof and the motto: Positive Vibes Only.

Crazy Gnome Brewery (cgbrewing.com). Brothers Grayson and Bennett Miller had spent five years readying to open their first brewery when the tornado knocked off their roof and ruined their fermentation tanks. By August 2020, with the help of friends and neighbors, they opened their pet- and family-friendly brewery. They welcome outside food in their space, so order takeout from one of the other local restaurants and enjoy it with a Crazy Gnome beer.

Weiss Liquors (weissliquors.com). While you are in the neighborhood, check out the 30-foot-tall neon sign at this Main Street liquor store. A constant in the city since 1932, it was knocked out by the tornado, rebuilt and recrafted by design company Fortify Nashville.

EAT

Bolton’s Spicy Chicken and Fish (boltonsspicy.com). You can’t come to Nashville without eating hot chicken. Bolton’s is one of the city’s leaders in this Music City favorite, started by a former cook at Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack. Enjoy the patio while you wait for your chicken to be fried for you.

Margot Café and Bar (margotcafe.com). When Margot opened in 2001, it paved the way for other restaurants to hang their shingles on the east side. Chef Margot McCormack closed her nearby lunch place, Marche Artisan Foods,

Opposite: Enjoy honky-tonk music on Tuesday nights at the American Legion Post. Above: Craft cocktails are created with precision at Attaboy.

during the pandemic, and instead expanded the patio and lunch hours at the original Margot. After the tornado, when neighbors needed a place to gather, eat and regroup, Margot fed the neighborhood and helped folks feel connected again.

Shep’s Delicatessen (shepsdeli.com). The aforementioned Marche space didn’t stay vacant for long. Shep’s opened a classic Jewish deli with pickles, bagels and pastrami. Behind Shep’s is Duke’s (dukesbarnashville.com), a favorite local bar with a solid sandwich counter, perfect for taking carry-out on a hike or picnic.

Hunters Station (huntersstation.com). Housed in a former autobody shop, Hunters Station is East Nashville’s food hall, serving beer, tacos, bagels, burgers, grilled cheese, ice cream and milkshakes. In addition, it is home to a community kitchen where start-up businesses—many birthed during the pandemic—make their recipes. Check out the Citizen Market, which stocks the goods of many of those small food businesses.

Butcher & Bee (butcherandbee.com/nashville). Creative takes on Middle Eastern food, a comfortable outdoor patio and a popular weekend brunch make Butcher & Bee the go-to for hungry locals.

PLAY

The Basement East (thebasementnashville.com). If you saw news reports about the tornado in East Nashville, you likely saw a photo of the Basement East. While its building was damaged, its “I Believe in Nashville” mural remained standing, and that painting was a source of strength for many during the difficulties of 2020. This eclectic, locally owned music venue is a favorite of locals who want to hear a cross-section of genres without as much flash and neon as they find on Lower Broad.

Honky Tonk Tuesday Nights (facebook.com/ honkytonktuesdaynights). The American Legion Post is two miles north of the Five Points intersection, and it is

Top left: The classic Jewish deli creations from Shep’s are a must. Bottom left and right: Butcher & Bee is known for its imaginative Middle Eastern cuisine.

worth the Lyft ride to hear live Western swing music and dance on an ample dance floor.

SHOP

The Getalong (thegetalongshop.com). This sweet store stocks family-friendly toys, teething necklaces, jewelry, kids’ clothes and home accessories, with an emphasis on feel-good vibes and locally made vendors. The space also includes room for art workshops and hanging out with other families.

Shoppes on Fatherland (fatherlanddistrict.com). Browse this collection of small shops, many of which are owned by local artists. Check out the selection of antiques, clothing, jewelry and more. Gift Horse, one of the complex’s larger stores, is a good option for Nashville-themed art and souvenirs.

Five Points Alley Shops (c615.co/five-points-alley-shops). Shop for vintage cowboy boots, books, beads and art among these connected cozy small shops.

Above: East Nashville is known for its eclectic shopping destinations and shops. Seen here is the Five Points Alley Shops, full of local and independently owned stores such as Tertiary Sight, Defunct Books, Fairytales Bookstore and The Good Fill.

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