NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — After decades in the Melrose community, The Sutler Saloon will cease operating in Nashville.
The Sutler Saloon originally opened in 1976, which then was part dive bar and restaurant. Owner Austin Ray and Joe Parkes Jr. reopened the establishment in 2014. Later this week, March 13, will end its run.
"We’ve made the extremely hard decision to close The Sutler," Ray said in an announcement on their website. "It was a piece of history for many longtime Nashvillians, and our vision for the space was to serve creative and delicious Southern food, craft cocktails and local beer, and create unforgettable live music moments. We did all that and then some, and I couldn’t be prouder of what we built during our time here. Being open forever is not the only measure of success, and I’m so grateful to our team at The Sutler, our loyal guests, and the many talented musicians who played our stage."
Though the restaurant is closing, Melrose Billiard Parlor will remain open. The parlor has been in constant business since the 1940s.
"We could go in as songwriters and play our own material, and people were locked into that," said Nicole Boggs of the band, Nicole Boggs and the Reel.
Her favorite gig space was The Sutler.
"It's somewhere we logged a lot of hours," said Boggs. "We've celebrated a lot of our musical releases there. You can't take back that history. It's cemented in that place."
Boggs hopes whatever occupies The Sutler's space next will also be a place to play original songs.
"This is supposed to be the capital of songwriting in the world," she said. "I really hope they continue with that tradition. I hope to be back on that stage soon."
