Update, Oct. 7: Owner Sherri Taylor Callahan took to Hermitage Cafe's Facebook page to confirm that the longtime establishment will indeed close, noting that "the location was sold without our knowledge" and "we were not given the option to buy the property." The cafe's last day of service will be Sunday, Oct. 31. See Taylor Callahan's full statement at the bottom of this post.
Hermitage Cafe — a downtown institution beloved for its late-night hours, retro space and down-and-dirty breakfast menu — may soon be closing.
The owners of the quirky Rutledge Hill diner posted the following message on their Facebook page: “We know there are some posts about the diner closing. We will give an official statement next week. We were handed the news recently ourselves. So bare [sic] with us at this time. We are trying to handle this news ourselves. Thank you.”
Scene sister publication the Nashville Post was unable to contact the owners of the business despite multiple attempts, and it is unclear what the phrasing “We were handed the news recently ourselves” means. The suggestion could be that the landlord has informed the owners of a tenant change.
Despite multiple local media reports noting the business will cease operations in October (see Channel 2's here), the cafe's owners have not specifically referenced a "closing." The owner of the building, located at 71 Hermitage Ave., is an LLC based in Cleveland, Ohio, and affiliated with GBX. That entity is unrelated to the owners of the restaurant business. According to its website, GBX specializes in preserving historic properties.
Opened since at least the 1970s (the exact date is unclear), the diner was renovated in 2015 for Food Network’s American Diner Revival. Its old-school, classic greasy-spoon vibe has made the business popular with locals and visitors to Nashville alike.
Hermitage Café has long operated from 10 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. seven days per week.
From the Hermitage Cafe on Facebook:
"This is something I hoped I would never have to write, it almost seems like it is not real. It was an amazing 31 almost 32 years. Regretfully, our last day to serve this amazing community will be Halloween night October 31,2021. We could have not made it this long if it wasn’t for the amazing community in Nashville. From the Police force, EMTs, the Fire Hall, Bartenders, Bar backs , starving artists and musician, to the ones who finally made it big, news guys waiting on the next story, tourist, people had a few to many, to the ones who just wanted to check us out, and most of all the regulars that over the years we have learned your name and your orders. Thank you! We sincerely would have not made it without you.
Unfortunately, the location was sold without our knowledge. We were not given the option to buy the property, we did not sell out. I am unsure what the new owner’s plan for the location is. I just know that the Hermitage Cafe will not be part of their future. I guess that's where “all good things must come to an end” comes from. With that being said, please go out and support your local mom and pop’s. They are unfortunately dying, they are being pushed out. If Covid is not closing these places down, gentrification is. Right now mom and pop’s need the community's support more than ever. God knows I had amazing community support for 32 years. Thank you again Nashville.
Lastly, thank all the employees that have been with us. They have become a second family to us and the many regulars. They are starting a food truck, as soon as I know the details, I will be asking everyone to support them. We wish them the best of luck on their future endeavors. As for our future, you never know more may come….
Thank you
Sherri Taylor Callahan"
