The Nashville Area Chat Thread (Clarksville, Franklin: crime, tenant, movies)

[Pimpy]

Originally Posted by DonCorleone

In other news...Opry Mills is slated to reopen in Spring 2012

In related news... Rivergate is hoping to survive past Summer 2012.

[bluesky42day]

^Rivergate has supposedly blossomed since Opry Mills closed. I haven't been out there but I know last month the news reported they were going to undergo a multi-million $ makeover. I wonder if people will continue to go there after Opry Mills reopens...

Courtney

[Pimpy]

Originally Posted by bluesky42day

^Rivergate has supposedly blossomed since Opry Mills closed. I haven't been out there but I know last month the news reported they were going to undergo a multi-million $ makeover. I wonder if people will continue to go there after Opry Mills reopens...

Courtney

Haha, that was my point. They're dumping all kinds of money into that mall to support the influx of displaced Opry Mills shoppers. I think it will be difficult for them to remain solvent once they lose that constituency.

[bluesky42day]

^I got what you were saying & I wanted to add to it with the makeover tidbit. Hopefully they'll both do well...I guess we'll see.

Courtney

[Pimpy]

Originally Posted by bluesky42day

^I got what you were saying & I wanted to add to it with the makeover tidbit. Hopefully they'll both do well...I guess we'll see.

Courtney

I hope so, too, but it will be a tough task for Rivergate, especially considering they've lost a lot of the Sumner County business they used to get to Indian Lake, Glenbrook, and all the new development between H'ville and Gallatin.

[DonCorleone]

I worry about the fate of Rivergate as well. When you look at Harding Mall, Bellevue Center, & Hickory Hollow it is hard not to see the writing on the wall. Plus there is still so much room up in Indian Lake for expansion...they've only barely scratched the surface for what that area can be. I really would not be surprised if one of the big anchor stores like Macy's/Dillard's/Sears/Penney's didn't cut bait in Rivergate and move to Hendersonville in the next year or two.

On one hand, I'd enjoy having those stores closer to me, on the other I know Rivergate needs them more. I just hope the improvements they're doing will help business continue there.

One thing I've heard numerous times is that no one really misses Opry Mills. I'm just not sure that their re-launch will be that successful. I kinda hope it isn't, honestly. But then again, I will always be bitter for the closing of Opryland.

[brentwoodgirl]

I'm very excited about the list of stores so far. It sounds like it will be better than it was before the flood. I would prefer Oryland too, but if it's going to be a mall, at least it will be a better one than before.

ETA: I have a food question to ask. What's the best hot chicken restaurant? I need to buy a gift certificate for a hot food fan that has never tried hot chicken. What's my best bet within 20-25 minutes of Brentwood?

[IngleDave]

If you guys haven't wandered over that way, there's a thread entitled "Minneapolis vs. Nashville." This one makes me proud and as a sample entry from a forumer in Minnesota said, "This has got to be the most civil versus thread in the history of the internet."

And to Nashvols, you've done a great job and much of the credit for this positive thread is yours, and the civil folks of Minnesota.

[DonCorleone]

@ brentwoodgirl: Hot chicken...it depends on who you ask. Prince's is the first one that most people think of. They're the oldest and if you believe the legend, they invented the dish. It is, without a doubt, exceptional. However, it is in a strip mall off of Dickerson Rd. in northeast Nashville...almost in Madison actually. It's tiny and it can be very hard finding a place to sit and eat. Likewise, they don't usually have great customer service there. All that to say, while the chicken is great and the ambiance is sort of charming in its own way, it is not always a great dining experience there in the restaurant. However, it is the Mecca of hot chicken and it is a must-try at some point for any hot chicken fan.

That said, I would suggest 400 Degrees for a first-timer. It's just as hot as Prince's and the flavor is very much the same. In fact, I doubt I could tell the difference most of the time. But 400 Degrees' new location is on 4th and Peabody...just a few blocks from the new Convention Center that is under construction. Very convenient location just off of the Shelby St. exit or 4th Ave exit. They also have ample parking and most importantly...plenty of seating. It is in a food court so there are other restaurants there, but it is plenty of room. And they have great customer service. They're always very friendly. All in all it is a better first time experience I believe.

Bolton's is a fine establishment too. Not nearly as hot as Prince's but very good. Again, not much seating. They're also a friendly lot there as well. I cut my hot chicken teeth on Bolton's and they'll always have a fond place in my heart.

There's a new place called Pepperfire that is on Gallatin Rd in East Nashville...but I've not been there yet.

My guess is that it will be hard to find a gift certificate for any of the places. 400 Degrees might have them. They're all mom and pop kind of places so they usually don't have things like that. In fact, all 3 of the above are cash only. No credit cards or debit cards.

Hope that helps.

EDIT: let me also add that I suggest any first timer drink non-carbonated drinks. Fizz only adds to the pain. Milk is the best (the fats help break down the capascin), water and lemonade are okay, soda and beer are mistakes.

[Pimpy]

Originally Posted by DonCorleone

I worry about the fate of Rivergate as well. When you look at Harding Mall, Bellevue Center, & Hickory Hollow it is hard not to see the writing on the wall. Plus there is still so much room up in Indian Lake for expansion...they've only barely scratched the surface for what that area can be. I really would not be surprised if one of the big anchor stores like Macy's/Dillard's/Sears/Penney's didn't cut bait in Rivergate and move to Hendersonville in the next year or two.

On one hand, I'd enjoy having those stores closer to me, on the other I know Rivergate needs them more. I just hope the improvements they're doing will help business continue there.

One thing I've heard numerous times is that no one really misses Opry Mills. I'm just not sure that their re-launch will be that successful. I kinda hope it isn't, honestly. But then again, I will always be bitter for the closing of Opryland.

Not many locals miss it, but that place drew business from everywhere. At one point, it was the most visited tourist attraction in the state, believe it or not! (It may still have been when the flood hit, I'm not sure.)

I think they will do just fine when they re-open, although I agree with your sentiments about Opryland. I always surmised that a 13-year-old girl was behind that decision. "We should tear it down and build a mall!"