On 12th Avenue South, the Departing Owners Are Handing Over the Keys Themselves

"Change is never easy, but I'm incredibly proud of what Burger Up has meant to this neighborhood and excited to see the space begin its next chapter," Burger Up owner Jim Lewis said in the announcement WhatNow Nashville reported in July. "I chose Levain because I believe they'll be thoughtful partners, wonderful neighbors and a great addition to the community we all love."

The second sentence of that quote explains most of what has happened on 12th Avenue South in 2026. Two of the corridor's longest-running local businesses closed this year. In both cases, the people stepping away decided where their address went next. The 12 South Taproom's owners sold their land. Burger Up's owner picked the bakery that will follow him. The businesses arriving on the strip have all proven themselves in New York, Chicago or national retail, and at least one is openly trying to take over the old role of neighborhood gathering spot.

Two Exits, Two Deliberate Handoffs

The Taproom went first. Will Shuff opened 12 South Market and Deli in 2003. It became the 12 South Taproom in 2006, around the time 12 South and Nashville's craft beer scene were both picking up speed, according to the Nashville Post. The Tennessean reported the closing date as May 25.

The property's paper trail shows how much the strip has changed. The Post reported that Jaw on 7th LLC, an entity affiliated with Shuff, co-owner Jamy Borda and Bill Shuff, bought the 0.43-acre lot at 2318 12th Ave. S. for $1.15 million in 2012. The Post reported the Taproom's closing as a result of that LLC selling the lot for $12 million. That is a little over ten times the 2012 purchase price, for a building that housed a beer-and-burger bar.

Shuff's comments to the Post covered both sides. "Right now we're focusing on 51 North Taproom and don't plan to relocate 12 South Taproom," he said. "The restaurant business is about as challenging as it has been in my 25 years of being involved in the industry." He added, "I hope our customers will continue to support small, local independent businesses."

Burger Up followed in August. WKRN reported that the restaurant's last day was Saturday, Aug. 1, after 16 years in 12 South. To fit in as many final visits as possible, the restaurant asked guests to keep their visits to 75 minutes. Before July ended, Lewis had named Levain Bakery as the next tenant at 2901 12th Avenue South.

These two closings join a longer list. In the same WKRN story, the station placed them alongside earlier 12 South departures: Portland Brew, Josephine's and Mafioza's.

The Address Ledger, as of October 2026

Here is where each space on the strip stands, based on the most recent public reporting:

The tenants planned for the Taproom site came from a source who spoke to the Nashville Post. The Post also tied the buyer, 2318 12th Avenue South LLC, to the address of a Franklin-based commercial real estate company, and said those officials declined to comment.

What Changes at the Sidewalk

On the Taproom lot, the building's position on the street will change. According to the Post, the current building sits back from 12th Avenue in a suburban layout, with parking between the building and the sidewalk. That building will be torn down. Metro's urban zoning overlay requires the replacement to be built up to the sidewalk. A stormwater grading permit application refers to "development of a retail building with two tenants," and lists Nashville-based Catalyst Design Group.

That parking lot is in the middle of a conversation the neighborhood is already having. When WKRN covered Burger Up's last days, the station reported that some residents point to rising costs and parking as reasons small local businesses struggle on the strip. One resident told the station, "There's no parking and we can't meet in a place without paying $20 an hour to park."

The other projects add a lot of square footage to the same few blocks. Nashville Lifestyles reported that Au Cheval will take a 5,000-square-foot space next to Sushi-San and La La Land, across from Lululemon. Mother's Ruin plans about 4,000 square feet inside plus a 2,000-square-foot patio, with a bar connecting the interior to the rooftop. Based on a Metro permit filing, the Nashville Business Journal put the build-out cost at about $1.1 million.

Who Is Arriving, in Their Own Words

All of the incoming operators already have track records elsewhere. Several of them describe their 12 South plans in terms that were usually used for the places that just closed.

Levain Bakery was founded in New York City in 1995 by Pam Weekes and Connie McDonald. The company said it searched for more than four years before choosing the former Burger Up space. "The moment we walked into the space, we knew it was the one," the founders said. They also said they hope to carry on the property's legacy as a neighborhood gathering place. The menu will feature the bakery's oversized cookies, including Chocolate Chip Walnut, Oatmeal Raisin and Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip. It will also include coffee, tea, pastries, breads, loaf cakes and baguette sandwiches.

Au Cheval comes from Brendan Sodikoff's Chicago-based Hogsalt. According to Nashville Lifestyles, the group runs 19 locations across Chicago, New York and Paris and is known for "dark, intimate dining rooms and unapologetically indulgent comfort food." Sam Fox's Author & Edit Hospitality, which already runs The Twelve Thirty Club on Upper Broadway, will operate the Nashville restaurant. Fox and Sodikoff go way back. Early in his career, Sodikoff was the opening chef at Fox's Olive & Ivy in Scottsdale.

Mother's Ruin is a New York bar brand founded by TJ Lynch and Richard Knapp. It already has a Nashville location at 1239 6th Ave N. WhatNow reported that the 12th Avenue bar would make Nashville the only market where the brand runs two locations. The format is walk-in only and runs from daytime through late night. Brunch is served daily, and the late-night menu includes burritos, wings and burgers.

The Gap Between Announcement and Opening

None of these openings has a confirmed date. Au Cheval's "late fall 2026" target dates back to its March announcement. As of early October, it is still listed under "Coming Soon" on Visit Nashville's new-restaurants page, which was last updated October 5, with no newer date. The 12 South Mother's Ruin site says "Opening Late 2026" and gives no day. When Levain announced its move in July, it gave no timeline. The 2027 estimate in one local directory has not been confirmed by the company. No public opening date has been reported for the new building on the Taproom lot.

That means a stretch of the corridor is between tenants right now. The handoffs are agreed, but the new businesses have not opened.

What's Still on the 12 South Calendar This Month

Meanwhile, the corridor's established routines are running through the end of October:

1. Saturday, Oct. 17, noon to 2 p.m. Postino at 2317 12th Ave South is hosting "Pickled @ Postino," with pickle sampling, branded swag and a Hot Pickle Dip while supplies last.
2. Tuesday, Oct. 27, 4 to 7 p.m. The 12 South Farmers Market wraps up a season that started May 5 with its last Tuesday at Sevier Park, 3000 Granny White Pike.
3. Same evening, same hours. The market's Halloween Harvest Festival falls on that final market day.

So when the market packs up on Oct. 27, it will be running on its usual schedule while the Taproom lot waits for its replacement building and Levain has yet to set a date at 2901.

Storefront turnover on a walkable strip like 12th Avenue South can change how buyers see the homes a few blocks away, and that is hard to read from the sidewalk alone. If you own near the corridor and want to understand how this year's changes affect what your home is worth, Your Nashville Agent will walk you through it. Request a Free Home Valuation.

This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Consult a qualified professional about your situation.