Byrd's Eye View - The relaunch of Merchants
Longtime downtown Nashville staple, Merchant's restaurant has undergone three months of renovations and was unveiled to the public on Wednesday evening. The freshly revived eatery is now under new ownership by the Goldberg brothers, Benjamin and Max, of Strategic Hospitality, who also handle the award winning cocktail bar, The Patterson House, Broadway honkey tonk Paradise Park and private events space Aerial.
Merchants, a 140-year old building that has also served as a pharmacy, hotel and a soda shoppe, provided an exciting new challenge for the brothers, who have relaunched the space with two new dining options and a new chef, Clayton Rollison, who most recently served as the sous chef for Capital Grille in the Hermitage Hotel.
The first floor of the building, a vision in black and white herringbone theme, will offer a more casual dining experience for lunch and dinner seven days a week and even late night snakcs until 2a.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. The upstairs has been transformed into a super sleek and cozy dining area that offers a more intimate experience and a seven-course chef's tasting menu. The third floor is still available for private events.
“We wanted Merchants to return to being a really dynamic place, whether you’re on your lunch break or celebrating your wedding anniversary,” said Benjamin Goldberg, co-owner of Strategic Hospitality, LLC in the news release. “The building has so much history that we decided to weave that into the entire restaurant and you see evidence of it in our food, cocktails, service, and attire. My hope is that Merchants is able to draw tourists and locals for a delicious meal and top-notch service.”
