NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — A beloved Nashville restaurant is closing its doors for good.
Manny's House of Pizza announced via Facebook that after 39 years, they'd be closing their restaurant in the Nashville Arcade.
"The Arcade building is going under a major transformation, leaving us unable to operate with a full kitchen," the letter reads.
The same letter was posted on the door of the restaurant and caught customers off guard.
"It's a huge loss for Nashville," said one man, who stopped by for lunch.
"I was disappointed," said Eric Grundy, who works in the Nashville Arcade. "I’ve known the family for years and years."
The closure is just the latest in the Nashville Arcade. The U.S. Post Office closed in January.
"Lately in the Arcade, there is a lot of construction," said Olivia Swallows, the Owner of The Peanut Shop.
The Peanut Shop has been in operation for 96 years and is one of only a handful of businesses still open in the 120 year old shopping center. Swallows has had a front row seat to the ongoing changes, which included a New York real estate firm and a group of local investors buying the property in 2021.
Photos are on display of plans for the center, and many storefronts are being renovated. Still, Swallows said the future feels uncertain.
"They’re working on stuff," said Swallows. "I just don’t know when they will have it ready, and who is coming in. We just don’t know."
Swallows said between the ongoing construction and the pandemic, foot traffic has slowed in the Arcade and business has dropped off.
"They’ve got closed signs on either end of the Arcade, so that kind of deters people from coming through," said Swallows.
Still, Swallows remains hopeful. She said The Peanut Shop will stay as long and they can. She hopes Manny's closure is the last she will see for awhile.
"It’s a good location, so hopefully they revive it after all this construction because it's been lackluster the last year or so," said Swallows. "There’s always hope, that’s all I got right now."
