The History of Houston Station: From Ghosts to Great Coffee!
Once a hosiery mill, Wedgewood-Houston's historical Houston Station is now a mecca for food, art, and local businesses. And maybe even a few ghosts ... Image: Houston Station
If you’ve ever wandered down Houston Street in Nashville’s Wedgewood-Houston neighborhood and felt like you stepped into a time warp — only with better coffee, cooler furniture, and SoHo House — you’re probably aware of Houston Station. This pair of historic factory buildings, located between downtown and the Nashville soccer stadium, is a living, breathing example of what happens when history meets hustle. We’ve got the scoop on Houston Station’s ghost stories, multiple renovations, and upcoming developments.
Houston Station wasn’t always Houston Station. “We had no idea what kind of use would be best for these buildings,” admits Gordon Gilbreath, the building’s Chief Manager, owner, and, as it turns out, a bit of a historic preservation wizard. “The buildings were largely empty, and we had great fun exploring the almost 100,000 square feet of cavernous ancient factory and warehouse brick, stone, and heavy timber interiors.”
That’s his poetic way of saying the place was mostly empty and possibly even a little spooky.
Houston Station’s story stretches back to the early 1900s when the buildings housed all manner of industrial businesses — from walnut and grain processors to tobacco rooms and cabinet manufacturers. Thanks to the adjacent Nashville Chattanooga, and St. Louis Railroad (now CSX), it was prime real estate for shipping raw goods and finished products. You know, before Amazon delivered toasters and Q-Tips in 24 hours.
One side of the complex, the eastern building at 434 Houston Street, once belonged to the American Syrup Company. Today, instead of sticky syrup, it hosts James Beard-nominated (and uber-delicious) Bastion and the jazzy, vibey Americano Lounge. “The circa 1903 hand-painted sign can still be seen on the outside brick above Bastion’s large bar room,” says Gordon.
On the western side, 438 Houston Street was home to the May Hosiery Mill circa 1915. “The May family operated the hosiery mill at Houston Station through two world wars,” Gordon notes, “making parachutes of silk in the first and of nylon in the second. And Neil Armstrong supposedly wore their socks when he took his steps on the moon.”
Moon socks. Beat that history, SpaceX.
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“In 2015, our first restaurant tenant, Bastion, opened in the space where our carpentry shop used to be,” says Gordon. Image: Houston Station
The whole restoration journey kicked off in 1999 when Dovetail LLC was looking for workshop space for its millwork, cabinet-making, and construction activities. Gordon was tipped off on the location when his neighbor, songwriter Dave Olney, suggested he speak to Douglas Corner Owner Rick Martin. (Naturally, any good Nashville story always starts with a songwriter.)
Rick Martin was part of the family that owned Houston Station and let Gordon lease the space. A few years later, in 2005, Gordon and his team bought the property. And so began the long, dusty, exciting journey to revitalization.
“We realized we could create an event space at Houston Station with a scale to match the bell curve of the wedding and event market,” Gordon recalls. Translation: it was big enough to throw a proper party — and people would come, even if the neighborhood felt a bit post-apocalyptic. “We realized guests would come to an abandoned neighborhood if the historic building was lit up outside like Wrigley Field,” he says, “and doormen and valets were there to meet and greet.”
It worked.
As renovations continued, the stories started piling up — and not just from the history books. “I’ve never experienced this, but many late-shift workers have said we have a friendly ghost at Houston Station,” Gordon says. “There have been many colorful characters in residence over the years. The Martin family members are certainly on this list, who transformed their jelly- and syrup-making businesses in the 1970s to styrofoam fabrication until the 90s. And we can’t forget the aforementioned May family, with their moon-boot hosiery.
But perhaps the most captivating artifacts are the buildings themselves. Gordon describes them poetically and like old friends: “The footfalls of today’s visitor echo among exposed heavy masonry and timbers, all handmade, over worn hardwood floors painted with yellow walkway lines to destinations lost in time.”
Fast forward to today, and Houston Station is no longer a hidden gem — it’s a full-on neighborhood anchor. For added effect, there’s still a train that goes by.
Bastion, which now inhabits what used to be Dovetail’s carpentry shop, was the first restaurant tenant in 2015. Hemingway’s followed (now closed), then Americano. And 2025 promises a lot more action. “By the end of this year, someone strolling Houston Street will have restaurant and retail shopping options that rival those in The Gulch and 12 South,” says Gordon. “Houston Station is the historic jewel at the heart of this district.”
And it’s not just about eating and sipping. The lineup of current businesses is a curated list of cool gems, including custom furniture from Cococo Home, vintage goods at Revolved Vintage, zen vibes at Heart of Wisdom Yoga, and fabulous hair days courtesy of Wildfire Salon.
On the office side, there’s a creative mix of tenants, from record labels and PR firms to Interior Designers Sara Ray and Of Origin Design Studio. There are even niche finance shops. “There’s lots of creative business action,” Gordon says, “so why not a friendly ghost?”
So, what’s next for Houston Station? The momentum isn’t even close to slowing down. “We’re really looking forward to the full activation of Houston Street,” Gordon says. “We hear Pastis will open this summer, bringing fine French cuisine next door.” Additionally, he mentions two new eateries, Aba and Bodega, which are likely opening across the street. In 2026, Momotaro is taking up residence. A surge of retail is also coming, headlined by Hermès, slated to open this fall.
And it doesn’t stop there. Wedgewood-Houston (affectionately known as WeHo) is riding a wave of transformation. “WeHo is one of the hottest investment, tax-opportunity zones in America,” Gordon adds. “In the heart of Nashville, it’s the superstar we’re fortunate to call home.”
Houston Station is more than just a pair of historic buildings. It’s a layered story of craftsmanship, community, and creativity. It’s a place where you can sip an espresso under century-old beams, shop for hand-quilted art, and maybe — just maybe — meet a ghost who once stitched parachutes for WWII.
As Gordon puts it, “The appeal of historic spaces is all about the imagination.” And in Houston Station, imagination runs wild — from the worn floors beneath your feet to the hum of jazz drifting from the next room.
So next time you’re in WeHo, don’t just walk past Houston Station. Step inside. You never know what piece of history (or future) you might find.
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Jenna von Oy Bratcher
Jenna von Oy Bratcher is StyleBlueprint's Associate Editor and Lead Nashville Writer. The East Coast native moved to Nashville almost two decades years ago, by way of Los Angeles. She is a lover of dogs, strong coffee, traveling, and exploring the local restaurant scene bite by bite.