Favorite Nashville Businesses
Hi there and happy Tuesday! I hope that you had a great week and holiday, if you’re a fellow American. I had such a heavenly time away that I was actually tearing up, sitting in JFK on Saturday. Gosh, I love vacation. And the beach. And New York City.
Considering that I was lucky enough to combine all three of those last week… returning to real life has been meh. To cope, I spent Sunday playing mind tricks on myself (while I was cleaning the house – seriously back to reality). This week’s mind trick was called “cool things about Nashville.” So, I’d love to tell you about one of the cool things: a few of my favorite Nashville businesses. I plan to go to all of them this week. Just to, you know… ease the transition.
There are SO many good places here. Nashville’s small biz game is hot. And there’s something special about doing business in this city. People really help each other. It seems like almost everything is locally sourced. Businesses turn competition into coopetition.
Here are a few businesses I’m hot on right now. They each have exceptional products, a welcoming atmosphere, and owners who are are fabulous human beings – a prerequisite if I’m buying.
Café Roze
Café Roze is around the corner from the first apartment where we lived in Nashville. It opened right after we arrived, and I acquired high hopes when I read that owner Julia was the former executive chef at Employees Only in NYC. When I worked in NYC over a decade ago, this was the it-place in the Village, so I was thrilled to hear that we’d get a little slice of cool in Nashville.
Café Roze has one of my favorite specialty coffees here: the Roze Latte. All the food is great, and the interior design is beautiful. Plus, the owner Julia is constantly flitting around in a relaxed way, talking to customers, and collaborating with her team.
Hester & Cook
My friend Mindy introduced me to Hester & Cook months ago, and I can’t stop sharing it with anyone who will listen. The good news is that they sell their paper goods and beautiful decor all over the U.S., so if you’re not in Nashville, they’ve got you! I brought their summer-themed paper placements as a hostess gift to NY last week, and they have the best stationary – coming from a thank-you-note-aholic.
Mindy invited me to have drinks with the owner Angie a few weeks ago. You know those people who are cool, smart, interesting, have impeccable style, and are wonderful people on top of it? (Yeah, it’s a rare cross-breed). Well, that’s Angie, so my enthusiasm for the business has been ellevated even more.
Sweet 16th
If you’re visiting Nashville and want a not-fancy but delicious breakfast sandwich, come on over to my street in East Nashville. The local bakery Sweet 16th has these insane egg sandwiches on the official bread of Nashville – biscuits!
Our neighbors Dan and Ellen own the bakery, and the first time I went there, I noticed a peculiar and beautiful thing. When it’s someone’s turn to order, the customer steps up to the cash register, and Ellen chats with him or her individually for a few moments. There’s always a line, yet there seems to be this unspoken rule that the next in line gives that person space for his/her little one-on-one time with Ellen. Then, it’s the next person’s turn. It’s very subtle but feels sweet and deliberate.
Lemon Laine
If you like beautiful spaces and body products, you have to visit Lemon Laine. This place too, sprouted into existence around the time that we moved to town. I went there during their opening week and met Laura the owner, who’s just as lovely as the photo above makes her seem. I couldn’t believe that when I saw her again a couple months later, she remembered me. It meant so much!
Her whole team is great too. We stock some of our Airbnb products from the store, and they’ve helped me out in a pinch when I was begging to get in before the shop opened or needing a little extra guidance. Between their peppy, helpful team and gorgeous store design, everyone feels welcome. The well-designed experience makes a difference!
What do you think? I’m convinced now more than ever that customers and clients feel business owners’ personalities, intention, and attention to detail in every interaction. Offline is the new online, people.
If you’ll be traveling to Nashville (or live here already!) I have all sorts of itineraries full of my favorite local businesses, if you’d like to see. Come visit us!
