Acme Food & Spirits: Coming Soon!

On Wednesday I had the opportunity to attend a press conference for the just announced Acme Food & Spirits. Scheduled to open in May or June 2014, Acme Food & Spirits will occupy the Acme Building on the corner of First and Broadway, downtown. This historic building has been vacant for 14 years, but was previously home to the Acme feed store.

The new project is ambitious but has a strong and successful group behind it. Tom Morales, CEO of TomKats Inc. is leading a group comprised of musician Alan Jackson, Steve Moore, George Boedecker and Nancy Russell.  Morales has a long history in Nashville and over 30 years experience in the restaurant business. Morales is the managing partner of The Southern Steak and Oyster which was recently named “Best New Steak House in America” by Esquire Magazine and is also located downtown. Morales has also been involved in many other nashville projects including Saffire Restaurant and a rebranding of the Loveless Cafe.

The Acme will feature 3 levels plus a rooftop patio, each with its own theme and purpose.

First Floor: The ground floor, described as “a modern take on the classic honkeytonk” will have street access to lower Broadway and will offer fast-casual food from open until close (late night). Matt Farley of The Southern will lead the kitchen, while the bar will feature over 24 local and craft beers on tap.

Second Floor: The second level will be an upscale lounge and bar, envisioned as the perfect place to relax and unwind after dinner at The Southern. The menu will feature craft cocktails from an in-house mixologist, while lounge seating, projection screens and classic table games are planned to keep guests comfortable and entertained.

Third Floor: The top level of The Acme will be home to an event and music space known as “The Buggy Room.” This space will be the largest single-level event and music venue on Broadway and will overlook the riverfront. With space for 350 seated or 600 standing, “The Buggy Room” will host private events such as wedding and birthday parties as well as a series of pre-programmed music events and concerts.

Rooftop: The rooftop patio will have views of both broadway and the riverfront.

The Acme was built in 1809 and originally housed a grocery store. In the early 1900’s it was home to The Bearden Carriage Company, the inspiration for the third floor “Buggy Room,” before being occupied by Acme Farm Supply from 1943 to 1999. The Acme has been vacant since.

The 300 year old building certainly has a rich history and a rustic feel, with wood slat floors and ceilings, exposed brick walls, and two rows of interior support columns every 10-15 feet. The developers plan to keep much of the interior the same, retaining the rich history and telling the story of The Acme. That said, I can’t wait to see how they transform the space. Hopefully they do spruce it up a bit, as it felt a little like being inside a drafty brick barn while I was there for the press conference.

Clearly, this is a project with a lot of support and a lot of fanfare and it will definitely be a welcome addition to lower  Broadway. The intersection of First & Broad is in the heart of the downtown entertainment district, and fifteen years is way too long for it to be home to a vacant building. This was a nice event featuring music from the Howlin Brothers band, and bloody mary’s and hors d’oeuvres for the guests.

Personally, I’m looking forward to next summer’s re-opening of The Acme, and I’m hopeful that it brings a fun, classy alternative to the honkytonks and tourist traps (both fun in their own right) of Broadway. I know that next summer I’ll be looking for excuses to explore and experience all that The Acme has to offer.

Howlin Brothers