These Are Gold Rush Times For New Retailers In Nashville
Retailers took it hard during the recession, but some of them are bouncing back in key growth markets like Nashville. Recently World Gym International, which has over 210 franchises worldwide, unveiled plans for its new Nashville location.
A selling point for the brand in Nashville will be its authenticity, World Gym Music City owner Johnny Wilkins tells us. “Nashville appreciates authenticity, and World Gym has a long history of serious fitness," he says. To build World Gym Music City, Johnny has partnered with ESa Architects to convert the Music City Auction Building in the North Gulch. The gym will open next year.
114 RE Investment, led by Paul Huddleston, acquired the building (pictured) for World Gym Music City in January. “World Gym is a much-needed amenity for the community,” he says. Cushman & Wakefield's Charlie Gibson repped the landlord, and Gateway Property Services' Matthew Wilson repped Johnny Wilkins and World Gym.
The gym isn't the only retailer expanding. On the heels of Burlington Coat Factory inking a lease for 40k SF at the retail component of the mixed-use One Bellevue Place, discount furniture chain HomeGoods signed a lease for 25k SF. The deal represents the retailer's desire to up its presence in Middle Tennessee, since the brand already has stores in Brentwood, Mt. Juliet and Hendersonville.
One more example: Fast-casual pizza chain Your Pie is eager to break into the Nashville market. By the end of the year, the company plans to have four locations in Music City, and eventually there might be as many as 10. The restaurant got its start in Athens, GA, in '08 and has since expanded to 33 locations nationwide. Shown: Your Pie founder Drew French preparing for the 2016 World Pizza Championship, which was in Parma, Italy, in April.
