The Gulch - that weird triangular spot downtown, where 12th turns into 11th and before you know it, you’re down by the train tracks and can’t seem to find Broadway (even though every other numbered street going north runs into Broadway).
There are big plans for The Gulch. Plans that paint a picture comparable to Soho, Dallas, or Santa Monica. Seems like a little much for a space that is currently home to hardly a handful of restaurants, a venue, some construction and a dismal parking situation. Local staples Ru Sans, Sambuca, Watermark, Station Inn and Bar Twenty3 make up the current landscape. So what will take The Gulch from don’t-blink-you’ll-miss-it to retail powerhouse status?
- The ICON High-Rise Condos - Nearing completion, this 22-story mecca of “urban living” is set to kick start development in The Gulch. Buyers begin moving in this summer.
- Urban Outfitters - The first big name retailer to enter The Gulch (and their first Tennessee location), hopefully to be followed by many more. This fall, Urban Outfitters will move into the space that currently houses music venue City Hall.
- Old & New - This week, it was confirmed that Urban Flats Flatbread Co. will open in the retail space within the ICON tower. Bongo Java bought a building last year, and Provence Breads & Cafe will be expanding into a full retail space within the next year at their Gulch location.
What do you think - can The Gulch pull it off? Will it be the next up and coming urban hot spot in town?
Photo by Exothermic.
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I live a wee bit down 12th ave but I sure would love to have a Whole Foods within walking distance of my office... the salad bar alone... mmm.....
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@Jordan - Certainly not the same vibe, but considerably similar on the upscale-retail-and-dining side of things.
@sarah - IKEA in the Gulch would be hilarious. I think we'll have to keep dreaming on that one for awhile.
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I get what Morgan is saying - Dallasites loooove to show off their money. I've often said, if gambling is the vice that characterizes Las Vegas, then conspicuous consumption is what characterizes Dallas. Better cars, bigger houses, blonder hair, more clothes, bigger rocks, perfect children in perfect schools... If you read D Magazine, that's all you read about. Well, that and ads for plastic surgeons and divorce lawyers.
But, enough about that, this is Nashville's blog.
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And City Hall is going away.
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@ Nashville-- Hello, 100 Oaks is perfect for Ikea...except then traffic on 65 would continue to go south in more than one way.
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There were months when everyday, during our 11-3 pm lunch hours, the whole building shook off and on as either the Velocity, Icon. or Terrazo construction teams blasted into the earth around us.
I have gotten so used to the constant noise, dust in the air, and construction vehicles blocking the street....I don't even pay attention anymore.
Even though the hill where the Icon now stands used to be the best sledding hill (for tipsy Sambuca employees after work)...it is nice to see the Icon near completion and to hear about all of the great retail coming to the neighborhood.
I am very excited about the Urban Outfitters!
I know for a fact that IKEA in the gulch is simply a rumor...(100 oaks mall would be a brilliant place to house a Nashville IKEA location though.)
I do know for a fact that the ICON will also house a Mexican Restaurant that plans to be open lunch and dinner....the new owners eat lunch here often..
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