East Nashville's beloved Family Wash pub struggles to keep the lights on
by Tracy Moore
What makes a great neighborhood bar? Certainly it's more than mere proximity. A great neighborhood bar has to offer a mix of low-key predictability, jovial welcome and a hangout vibe—and also be the sort of watering hole where everyone else you like wants to come too."We all know you can't set out and create that kind of scene," says steel guitarist and East Nashville resident Pete Finney. "You can open a business that's amenable to what the Family Wash is, but you can't make it happen. You can't create a sense of community with the regulars like that."
Finney would know. When he's not backing Patty Loveless on the road, he finds himself most nights stopping by the gastropub/listening room at the tree-shaded corner of Porter and Greenwood for a beer or to socialize with friends. On a given night, you can often find the cream of the city's touring sidemen.
"People aren't networking, they're there to hang out—sometimes to play, and sometimes to listen," Finney says. "And with a pretty wide range of beers and really good food."
That's what makes the news that the Family Wash is in financial trouble all the more upsetting to patrons and friends. After nearly seven years of conversation-friendly short music sets and a menu of boutique brews, shepherd's pies, meat loaf, salads and more, the former Laundromat may have to shut its doors.
"It would leave a huge vacuum in the neighborhood if it closed," Finney says.
For Finney, the Family Wash picked up where the Slow Bar—also a low-key dive where everybody knew your name—left off. To him, the Wash enjoys the critical distinction of being a musician's bar without being a music business kind of bar. The sort of only-in-Nashville place where someone comes off a tour with Bob Dylan and plays for tips.
"Like any endeavor, it comes down to the energy of the place and the people," says former Black Crowes guitarist Audley Freed, a Wash regular. "That's really it. As with so much stuff, it's the intangibles. The stuff you can't really describe. It's all about the vibe."
That's precisely what owner Jamie Rubin has spent the better part of seven years trying to preserve. His devotion has meant a slow but steady increase in revenue each consecutive year since opening in 2003, in spite of the various challenges he's weathered: change in partners, taking the business solo, being shut down in 2004 due to nonpayment of taxes, loss of a beer permit due to a clerical error in 2006. Last year, he weathered both the darkest days of the recession and a robbery.
But in the last few months, something stalled. Tables usually filled with a wide-ranging age group of artsy East Nashvillians and curious West Siders stayed empty all night long. Late-night crowds, usually eager for live music from Nashville luminaries such as Warren Pash and former Bowie guitarist Reeves Gabrels, stopped materializing. Even his popular Tuesday-night pint-and-pie special—featuring a meat or veggie shepherd's pie and a pint of beer for only $10—hasn't been the slam dunk it once was. Rubin stopped breaking even, and he hasn't been able to issue himself a paycheck since May.
"It's a matter of the times and the economy," says drummer and regular Marco Giovino, who tours with Patty Griffin and plays every Tuesday night at the Wash with Rubin. Giovino felt compelled to send an email around to patrons, friends and media to rally the troops.
"There's just not a ton of money out there for people to go out and spend and to eat," he says by phone. "But we need to come together as a music community, because the Wash needs a shot in the arm to get back on its feet."
Rubin had hoped that shot in the arm would come in August, a month typically reliable for a swell in patrons. No such luck. Now Rubin—a father of two used to averaging about four hours' sleep a night these last seven years—is losing sleep for different reasons. Just a couple more months like this, and he'll have to call it quits.
"Sometimes, there's not a soul in the place for two hours," says Rubin, who has the scruffy salt-and-pepper charm of a gracefully aging rocker who still wears Ramones T-shirts. "And I can't have another April and May like a June and July. Something's gotta change."
He's tried making adjustments. This year, he stayed open during the week of the Fourth of July, typically a slow business holiday. He buckled down on labor and food costs. He cut back on fish dishes and shrimp—good sellers, but costly perishables. He's focused instead on ingredients that do double duty: the ground beef that fills the pies and the meat loaf, roasted chicken that can also be trimmed off into salads.
Since he's a ubiquitous presence behind the bar most nights—a money saver that makes him all the more approachable—Rubin has fielded numerous suggestions from friends and patrons. He's seriously considered all of them.
"They've told me the music is too loud to talk sometimes—to not have music every night," he says. "Or to quit having music at all. They've told me to stop serving food and only have music."
They've also suggested he start charging a cover for the live music he hosts every night, or reduce his menu to only pies. He's been told to install TVs in the 60-something capacity space and turn on football. To have a karaoke night. And so on.
But Rubin doesn't think those ideas will fly. To stay afloat, he needs diners who may or may not stay for the tunes, and drinkers lured by the upscale microbrews and ales that made the Wash's name. And he wouldn't dream of alienating his dining regulars by charging them for music. Instead, he passes around a tip hat.
"I've never wanted this to be a Budweiser and Miller Lite kind of place," Rubin says. "If that's what someone wants, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of places to go for that. There are also lots of places to go see music. But how many places are there to go where you can see something different every night of the week?"
That casually eclectic spirit has made the Wash the kind of club that doesn't just make people want to visit a city: it makes them want to move there. Over the years, the Wash has played host to jazz, rock, Western and experimental acts who've helped to create its inimitable anything-goes vibe. It got Cheap Trick bassist Tom Petersson, a Nashville resident and friend of the Wash, to screen a hitherto unseen full version of the Cheap Trick at Budokan concert DVD. It even showed the 2004 Bush/Kerry debate on a TV with bunny ears, while a live band provided musical accompaniment.
"The jazz band that played was called the Mass Debaters," Rubin recalls with a chuckle. "They played a major key when Kerry talked, and a minor key when Bush talked."
As a result, the club's renown has spread in typically low-key fashion. "To me, it's not so much a bar as it is a community, for lack of a better word," says Rubin, who periodically enlists patrons such as Gabrels and Freed in his own musical endeavor, a Warren Zevon tribute band called Sons of Zevon. "It's laid-back. Mostly, this is a respectful group."
Until last year, Rubin had the good luck to avoid the kind of rough-and-tumble crowds that are part and parcel of owning a beer license. Apart from the occasional rowdy drunk—who quickly surveyed the crowd of low-key patrons and thought better of it—the Wash led a peaceful existence.
Then, on a Wednesday night in June 2008, two armed crooks descended upon the Family Wash and robbed all seven customers and the staff. It was just a messy, old-fashioned stick-'em-up. Rubin became understandably worried not just about the safety of his neighborhood and customers, but also future business.
His concerns were quickly quelled. The next day, dozens of calls flooded the Wash from friends, residents and customers. They begged Rubin to keep his doors open despite the robbery. (The criminals, both aged 16, were apprehended a few weeks later.) The next night was more packed than he'd seen in recent memory, full of well-wishers and supporters. Even so, one security-minded patron suggested he install video cameras to deter future crimes.
Rubin disagreed. A Boston native, he couldn't remember a tavern or pub—even in rough neighborhoods—that had video cameras on the premises. "Having video cameras is like saying the place isn't safe, and Family Wash is safe," Rubin says. He went on to have a well-attended, successful year—until now.
After five straight months of what Rubin calls "horrible business," his safety net is substantially tattered. He's considering a few ticketed shows with local heavy-hitters to increase his draw. Another pint-and-pie night is under consideration, but he doesn't want to cut in on an already good thing. He might start selling Saturday's end-of-the-night wine surplus for a cheaper by-the-glass price. It doesn't keep till the Wash reopens Tuesday night, anyway.
For now, he's fingering his worry beads, wondering what the odds are that his tardy busy season will show itself. The other night, things were looking up. The September issue of GQ features a handful of the best drinking cities in the country, and both Nashville and the Family Wash made the list.
"Last night, at about a quarter to 12, I had 8 kids—I'd say late 20s—come in from San Diego, who were on the plane, who had GQ, and had seen this thing," Rubin says proudly. "They had flown into Nashville for a wedding. They came in and said, so tell us about this place. It was the first time that had happened, where people had said, hey, we saw this on the plane, and we had to come here. They were like, this is the coolest place." In true neighborhood fashion, the kid holding the GQ ended up being from Rubin's own hometown of Boston.
"It was so cool," Rubin says. "What are the odds?"
Those kids may not know how much their drop-in meant to Rubin, but his regulars do. "There's really no other place like the Family Wash to hang out at," says Giovino. "There are a couple of cool bars, but nothing is that kind of chill with that kind of music, somewhere that every week has someone great playing and such an eclectic mix of music. Losing it would be like a relative dying."
Comments (46)
Showing 1-25 of 46
I don't want to be a TOTAL hater, but this really isn't that surprising to me....
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If you received the customer service that my wife I did there you wouldn't be surprised by this either. I hate to see any business fail, but I know I've boycotted Family Wash for the past 3 years due to their customer service. Ever been served your meal and then told, "You can leave right when you finish this." by the manager? I have, and of course I couldn't even eat the food with a statement like that.
4 reasons I live in East Nashville but don't go to Family Wash: 1. REALLY SHITTY SERVICE (everytime, especially from that one tattoed chick.) 2. THE KITCHEN IS SUPER SLOW (everytime, busy or slow) 3. I DON'T WANT TO HEAR THAT SHITTY MUSIC (I go out to eat to have conversations with my meal, not folk wankery) 4. THERE IS NO WINE OR LIQUOR as much as a bummer as it would be to lose that place, i won't be back there anytime soon.
what a relief to know that not everyone buys this sad tale of victimization. if they knew what i know about the place, no one would be surprised, and no one would feel bad for them. karma's a bitch. sometimes businesses close ONLY because the owner doesn't know how to run a business.
I have visited the wash frequently since it opened and ALWAYs have had a very pleasant experience. I'll have to say that the service and hospitality is great and I've never had an unreasonable wait for food or drink. The owner always greets me personally by name and I find the music refreshingly unique and entertaining. If the music is too loud for conversation, there is always the enclosed room at the entrance. I personally would hate to see the wash go, it offers a warm and wonderful experience like none other in Nashville.
I love the Wash and I can't imagine East Nashville without it. The Family Wash is the keystone of that community and removing it would leave a void that would reduce East Nashville/Inglewood to just another suburb with nothing to say for itself. Just a neighborhood with too much crime and not enough personality for the price tag. I am disappointed by the first four comments on this article. Anyone who knows where it's at, knows it's at the Family Wash. These people are not describing the Wash that I know or Jamie Rubin. He is BY FAR the most personable and genuine business owner in Nashville. Slow service? Maybe, but my bed is bigger than the kitchen there - and everything is baked in an oven. Bad service? Never. Bad music? Subjective. Too loud? No one is interested in what you're saying anyway. Whenever I have guests in town, I insist we visit the Wash because it offers character and comfort level that is rare in any city. Just check out the artwork in the bathroom if you don't believe me.
Here's the thing - location. I love the wash and the building it's in, but it is off the beaten trail. Why not move the whole shebang up to Eastland Ave. next to Ugly Mugs or into the 5 points. There do seems to be vacant buildings in the hood that are a little closer to the hub of the action. I think the family washers can make "it" happen anywhere! PS and the music, the food, the vibe, and the people really are great!
This place was a home away from home for me. This was the first place in Nashville that really opened its doors to music that many places refused to understand. The shepards pie leaves me still reeling to figure out its secret. If you find your way to these comments, and on one hand I hope you dont, but on the other, if there is anything I can do to help, let me know... ~ Raven
Unfortunately, I'm gonna have to agree with some of the more negative comments. After repeated visits, the service is inconsistent, to say the least. The food and drinks are overpriced, in general. The faux hipness of the East side wannabes is so thick you can cut it with a knife. And the music? Less said, the better.
I've enjoyed coming here, but the last several times I went there was actually a 45 min to hour wait. Wha!? This article was a real surprise to me.
More negative comments than positive: very telling. I loved the Wash and was there at least three times a week for years. It was the unofficial lesbian spot where I'd meet up with my girls. Then the owner apparently wanted to take a new "direction." He brought in a new partner, and suddenly all the mostly lesbian staff were fired for trumped up reasons and replaced by servers with no personality or sense of customer service. After that, I just can't patronize the place or that sort of passive hatefulness. My money and sense of politic are worth more than that. I agree with the person earlier who wrote that karma's a bitch. Very sad situation, but hardly worth the melodrama this article wants to give it.
I used to go there at least 3 times a month, and stay for long periods of time. The service was great, because I WASHED MY CLOTHES MYSELF. Since it became a pub, I have nothing good to say about it. It brought a bunch of snobby people to an otherwise quiet neighborhood, and gave them a chance to look down on the people that live in the neighborhood (down the street, you know what i mean), and almost run them over as they were crossing the street. Good riddance to hate-driven rubbish. Im glad the lesbians and the like dont patronize his ass anymore. See you at the unemployment office. (Because I WORK there, that is.)
We're brainstorming ideas on how to increase business and sales at The Family Wash. There is no way we're letting our favorite pint and pie joint die! Please help: http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=151320581042&topic=9852
I, too, hate to see a local place go belly up...especially one that I know was a strong supporter of local acts. But I also have been on the receiving end of some horrific service and witnessed the like. I haven't returned in a couple of years for that very reason. It's sad too, because I loved the food and the atmosphere...
ive known Jamie almost 30 years. he has integrity and has NEVER done anything simply to pad his wallet. he's a struggling business man with a love for the music he showcases, ZERO animosity towards lesbians (his co-manager at the time was very liberal and didnt have any fear or contempt for lesbians) or any other group, and he bends over backwards for bands--often hiring acts with small draws in an effort to help them grow. in all the time ive known Jamie, he has been entirely immersed in music. that bar exists because Jamie loves music, needs to feed and clothe his two boys, and because he LOVES East Nashville. i know the service can get slow--the minute he lets some of the wait-staff go home, the place gets bombed. bands with otherwise larger draws are left looking at empty chairs. he isnt a bad business man, BUSINESS is bad! those of you who are bitter, well, dont go in there. stay home and watch American Idol. if you have nothing good to say about a man's labor of love falling with this economy, blame Greenspan and Bush. the fact that you cant refrain from trashing the place indicates to me that there is more pissing you off than just service issues. could it be that you dont feel as cool and self confident enough to hang?
I have had great times at the Wash. I do have to say it had nothing to do with the service. It takes too long to get either and no one seems to care. If they are looking for suggesstions, I suggest they train the servers to pay attention to the customers. They do have good musical diversity and I appreciate that.
You are of course welcome to your positive opinions, just as i am welcome to my negative ones. And no, it's certainly not because i don't feel cool enough to hang. What does that even mean? I've spent a lot of time there and have refrained from saying how i truly feel, believe it or not. I will restrain (to some degree) now as well, but you can feel as great as you want about the place and about Jamie. I, however, feel the opposite. And my personal and truly awful experience is not imagined; it is not made up; it is real, and caused me a lot of pain. I will still not post in public my experiences because there is obviously no need. People can see for themselves what has happened there. But my close friends know, and none of them have gone back either. I know you consider him a friend, and I used to consider him one of my friends as well. I of course expect people to defend their friend and his business, but I have a right to state my piece as well, and to choose not to support the business.
Maybe Jamie can learn from the negative comments. I too have received bad service, not only from the employees but also from the owner! When i first moved to the east side four years ago i was a regular on pie and pint night. i slowly started going less and less and I don't think i have been once in the past year due to the bad service. other reasons i stopped going: limited hours (only open 30 hours a week, come on!), the price of the food considering what it is and the music. it is nice to be able to have a conversation over dinner and not be blasted out by music when you are getting charged $12 for meatloaf. Margot, marche and the eastland cafe are always packed even though they are more expensive than the wash. Why? great service and great food. The location of the wash is great, the interior is cool. i would hate to see the wash close. Hopefully Jamie can make some changes to bring back the large number of people he has turned off. P.S. i don't watch American idol.
The suggestion to stay home if you don't like it doesn't make a lot of sense here. The problem seems to be people ARE staying home already, or going somewhere else. If you are a music insider, that's fine. If you are a East side bohemian, fine. But don't be surprised if people don't care who Pete Finney is, or if Cheap Trick's bass player will be there. Apparently the people who don't mind bad service, high prices and like the music don't have enough money to spend.
I've been going to the Family Wash for over 4 years now, and I have never had a bad experience of any kind. The food is always excellent, the staff has always been extremely friendly, and Jamie bends over backwards to be personable to everybody. I know that when I walk in there, I'm always going to hear some cool and interesting music. Those folks with their comments fueled with anger, venom and hatred, don't belong in a place like the Wash anyway.
The sad, sad lives that people must have to want and wish for an establishment such as the Wash to fail. Then blame it on "KARMA"??? I will be at the Wash tonight enjoying my favorite roasted chicken, drinking my favorite Yazoo and talking with some very open minded people. And probably be enjoying some great music. Something you can't do over at 14th & Woodland. VIVA LA WASH!!!!
Hatred? I've just read an article about how the Wash is about to shut down due to lack of business, and offered my opinion as to why many people have quit going there(myself included). We all work hard for our money, and we carefully chose where we spend it. It's documented now. A lot of people think the service is inconsistent, at best. A lot of people think the prices are high. A lot of people think there's too much attitude. A lot of people don't like the music. They're commenting on it here, after an article about why the Wash is struggling. Is that hate? I don't think so. Most of them are hoping for improvements, especially in the service. Again, we all work hard for our money, and we carefully chose where we spend it. If a place like the Wash had developed a martyr complex, at the very least they need to be challenged on the validity of being a martyr.
My two cents: I love the Wash, Jaime, the amazing bunch of musicians that play and frequent there, the crowd and, of course, the food. I, personally, have not found that kind of great comfort food any place cooler than the Wash. And to find the wide variety of music from bluegrass to folk to country to rock to alt and see it in every possible format from singer songwriters to full bands is incredible to me. If you haven't tried the Wash, or haven't tried it in a while, please check it out!
Why should I go somewhere becauase a steel guitar who's who hangs out there? WTF?
I love The Wash and hope that Jamie and his restaurant can hang in there until my personal fortunes (I doubt I'm the only one in this boat) improve enough that I can be a frequent customer again. The food is great, the menu and prices are just right. I also love the "feel" of The Family Wash-laid back, interesting, artful and real. In my experience the service is better than other east-side eateries. And Jamie is one of the people that keeps variety and talent alive in the Nashville Music scene. The Family Wash isn't the only restaurant (or business for that matter) that has suffered in the last year, I hope The Wash is one of those that makes it through to the other side.
