Nashville staple Monell’s at the Manor closing after 13 years
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Monell’s at the Manor served dinner for the final time Saturday evening as the Nashville staple prepares to officially close its doors Sunday afternoon following 13 years of business.
The line stretched out the door on Saturday, April 20 as customers waited to enjoy Monell’s award-winning Southern food served family style.
WATCH: Customers show support for Monell’s at the Manor during Nashville restaurant’s last weekend
“The food here is excellent. The people here are the nicest people you’ll ever eat with — they come in here, they’ve got a sweet spirit about them. It’s kind of like being around your family around dinner time or especially the holidays,” customer David Smith said.
Maria Runnels is close to Monell’s owner and remembers helping him open his restaurant at the manor back in 2011.
“The books were full of dust. [We] brought vacuum cleaners, and clean, clean, clean, clean, and then he did so much more than that,” Runnels recalled.
FEBRUARY 2024: Historic Monell’s mansion facing ‘threat of demolition’
Management previously announced the Metro Nashville Airport Authority would not renew its lease at the end of April. The airport authority addressed that decision in a letter to Metro Councilmember Russ Bradford, citing the growing demand for aeronautical services in Nashville, as well as the manor being in poor condition.
“I get it, we need to grow, and Nashville is growing and it’s growing, but it’s growing to some point that they’re doing away with the history of the city,” Runnels said.
Others felt this closure was just the latest example of the cost that comes with Nashville’s growth.
MARCH 2024: Metro Council draws up resolution to protect Monell’s
“We hate to see them go. I mean, it was always pretty busy it seemed like when we’d drive by here on Murfreesboro Pike, so I imagine business was good, but once again, progress wins again,” Middle Tennessee native Randy Batey said.
Some have been holding out hope that the manor can still be saved. Local artist Peggy Snow painted a picture of Monell’s at the Manor as the restaurant prepared to close, offering to donate it to anyone willing to help preserve the manor. Snow would like the building to be allowed to remain where it stands, or be moved to a nearby location.
“The airport authority could own it if they would let the house stand here or somewhere because we just do not make the huge, wooden, beautiful places for the general public to come and be. They’re just not built anymore like this,” Snow said.
APRIL 2024: Efforts continue to save Monell’s at the Manor
Monell’s at the Manor will be open one last time on Sunday, April 21 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The restaurant’s Germantown location will remain open.
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