Nashville’s Arcade, Reimagined: Open Now and Coming Soon!
Midway through a multi-year renovation, The Arcade in Downtown Nashville has already been revitalized. Here’s what’s open — and what’s still to come! Image: Urban Cowboy
In our preview of ten things to look forward to in Nashville during 2025, several of the exciting additions revolved around The Arcade Nashville in downtown. This historic retail destination has been in operation since the early years of the 20th century. After 120 years, The Arcade deserved a little glow-up!
New investors and developers have been hard at work bringing the architectural marvel back to its former glory. While construction is still happening as new tenants prepare to open soon, there are plenty of things to get excited about in The Arcade. Here’s an update on what’s already open and what is still to come.
Now Open
Food & Drink
Undoubtedly, the biggest early splash of The Arcade 2.0 has been the opening of Urban Cowboy Bar, the newest project from hospitality pros Lyon Porter and Jersey Banks. The showcase bar joins the couple’s two hotels in Nashville, a lodge in the Catskills of New York, and another property in Denver.
The new bar’s design aesthetic fits right in with their other properties, with quirky nods to Western motifs and fun details like taxidermied animals as accents overlooking multiple bars and dining areas, and a random disco ball glimmering from the ceiling of the massive space’s upstairs level.
While each Urban Cowboy project does have at least a small bar, this is the first time Lyon and Jersey have opened a standalone bar, specifically a nod to Old West saloons from the middle of the 19th century. The downstairs bar exudes a more rough-and-tumble vibe that calls for a beer and a shot, while upstairs leans more toward cocktail culture.
The large window over the upstairs bar is particularly striking, offering a panoramic view of The Arcade. The middle of the roof’s armature stretches the length of the building like the spine of a dinosaur skeleton. Open from lunch until late night, Urban Cowboy Bar should soon become a popular destination for tourists and locals alike.
An added amenity at the East Nashville outpost of Urban Cowboy has been a permanent recipe by the master pizza-makers from Roberta’s, based out of Brooklyn. Since 2008, the pizzaiolos from Roberta’s have been regarded as experts in the art of cooking sourdough pies in wood-fired ovens, and they have brought that talent to downtown with the opening of their new slice shop.
Roberta’s has a separate entrance into the main walkway of The Arcade, but it is also connected to Urban Cowboy Bar. Patrons can bring their slices into the bar to enjoy with a cocktail or a beer under the eternally watchful eyes of the animal heads hanging from the walls. Guests are also welcome to grab a slice to go — a quick and delicious meal that will make for a great lunch break for downtown workers.
When word came out about the extensive remodeling efforts at The Arcade, some locals worried about the fate of long-time fixtures like The Peanut Shop. And yes, some old reliables have closed down as part of the space’s reimagining, including the old post office. But visitors can still shop for nuts, chocolates, and other sweet treats at this old-timey store that started out as a Planters Peanut shop. They did shut down during the extensive restoration efforts, but The Arcade is proud to still be home to this spot that has been in business for almost a century.
Ugly Bagel was one of the first new businesses to open during the remodel of The Arcade, and operates on the belief that a bagel doesn’t have to be beautiful to be delicious. The slightly misshapen bagels come in twelve regular flavors with special limited-time options dropping monthly. Guests can watch the magic happen through a window into the open kitchen, where employees roll the bagels by hand. Accompanied by special cream cheese blends or as part of a bagel sandwich, ugly bagels can be beautiful!
Shopping
L.A. Green is a Mississippi-based boutique that features trendy couture chosen by fashion professionals who live and work in the region where they grew up, so they know who they’re shopping for and selling to. In addition to clothing, L.A. Green offers fun home goods and gift items online, along with selected items in its retail locations.
With locations in Downtown Franklin and now in The Arcade, Mimi & Dottie is a popular shopping destination for anyone seeking stylish clothing, jewelry, and accessories. The house specialty is handmade jewelry that customers can dress up with accents at Mimi & Dottie’s charm bar, so it’s a great place to create a custom memento of a trip to Music City.
From Nashville with Love is laser-focused on local products ranging from Hatch Show Prints to handmade soaps and jewelry from area artisans. Especially popular is its line of “permanent jewelry,” where customers can pick out bracelets with or without charms that are spot-welded onto their arms. (Don’t worry, everyone wears protective clothing during the process!)
Daniel X Diamond is a favorite boutique among country music celebrities, and you can see some of your favorite stars appearing on television or in concert wearing DxD duds. Even better, now you can buy your own cowgirl couture at this attractive little shop in The Arcade. Let the team of stylists put a little rhinestone sparkle into your life.
Flea Style is the spot for elevated cowgirl apparel, but hats are the focus at its retail locations in Texas, Kentucky, and now in The Arcade. Book an appointment for yourself or your entire squad at Flea Style’s Hat Bar to pick out and customize the perfect chapeau, just for you!
To create something unique, choose from vintage and handmade accessories or Flea Style’s selection of scarves, pins, feathers, dried florals, and other bling.
Upstairs at The Arcade has long been home to small art studios and galleries, and that spirit has been revitalized through the new Arcade Arts program. It provides ten rent-free spaces to a rotating roster of artists, who are picked through a judging process. Visitors can watch them at work through windows along the open corridor or during monthly art crawls and special shows. The variety of media and styles is remarkable, so there’s something for every sort of art lover upstairs at The Arcade.
Services
While you may not be able to mail a letter from The Arcade anymore, there are still essential services available in the heart of Downtown. Percy’s Shine Service has been spiffing up men’s and women’s shoes since 1947, when Robert “Percy” Person first snapped a rag on Jefferson Street to give a good spitshine. His shop at The Arcade has been a fixture for decades.
If your boots need mending or your shoes need resoling, Tony’s Shoe Repair is the place to go, where Sam and Anna Yi will repair and revitalize your leather footwear and other premium leather products. They also offer cleaning services and orthopedic modifications.
Speaking of modifications, if you’ve got clothing that needs to be taken in or let out or hemmed up or repaired, drop into Alterations by Semra on the upper level of The Arcade. Her customers swear by her tailoring talents, and her service is top-notch.
Coming Soon
Food & Drink
Bar Roza is another project from Julia Jaksic, the owner of Cafe Roze and Roze Pony. She is converting a former storage area into a small bar with elevated cocktails and small plates for sharing.
What happens when a professional skateboarder meets a master chef, and they decide to collaborate on what they think is the perfect cheeseburger? The answer is NADC Burger, which stands for “Not A Damned Chance,” because nobody believed a restaurant could survive offering just one burger served one way. Thousands of ⅓ lb wagyu beef burgers with American cheese, secret sauce, onions, pickles, and jalapeños later, NADC is expanding into Nashville with their eighth store in The Arcade. Don’t bet against genius!
If you’re a fan of açaí, pitaya, coconut bowls, and smoothies, Playa Bowls should be a welcome addition to The Arcade when it opens its latest outpost.
Kokos Plant-based Ice Cream will be another spot for healthy treats, joining the original location in ONE C1TY off Charlotte. Kokos proudly serves desserts so decadent that you won’t realize they’re vegan.
The “Beignets” part of Beignets & Brew is pretty straightforward. The classic French donuts come dusted with powdered or cinnamon sugar, or you can customize them with drizzles like Nutella or cinnamon roll icing. The “Brews” part of the name refers to both specialty coffee drinks and beers. Plus, it will offer smoothies and “power fizzies.”
Shopping
Already available in area department stores and standalone shops, Faherty is a family company that offers comfortable and stylish clothing for both women and men. The new store in The Arcade will finally bring it to Downtown Nashville.
For pretty much anything honey- or bee-related, buzz into Savannah Bee Company once it opens on the ground floor of The Arcade. From edible honey to health and beauty products to gift items, you can probably find it at SBC, and Savannah Bee Company shares its profits with the community.
Entertainment
A team of Nashville musicians and hospitality pros is coming together to create Buddy’s Tiny Tonk, a bar aimed at fans of traditional country music and the musicians who have played on classic records for the past half century or more. Instead of live music, Buddy’s will feature a curated playlist that will offer a journey through Nashville’s musical history. Additionally, it promises discounts for locals who visit the Lilliputian bar.
Show Stop will also be a smallish space, but it aims to feature live music at its intimate venue. Plans include a high-end sound system, local and regional artists on stage, and great food and drink options.
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Chris Chamberlain
A rare Nashville native, Chris Chamberlain has been writing professionally for over 16 years. Chris loves to write about food, bourbon, and quirky history — especially in the South. Find more of Chris's work at the Nashville Scene, Resy, Fodor's, Tennessee Visitors Guide, Bourbon Plus, NFocus, Thrillist, and Eat This, Not That.