Bob Bernstein, owner of the Bongo Java chain, announced this spring that his new Jefferson Street location would be called The Sit-In, an homage to civil rights-era protests that took place in Nashville and elsewhere. Yesterday, the coffee shop soft-opened with a new name: Jefferson Street Cafe.
In an interview last month with The Scene, Bernstein said the name was intended to pay respect to the history of Jefferson Street while promoting conversation about the topic. Even so, hashtags like #boycottbongo and #shutdownthesitin were created in response to the announcement of the restaurant’s original name, which sparked controversy within North Nashville.
Some accused Bernstein of trying to monetize an era of history that was painful for many, while others felt he was marking an end to an issue that they say has not ended. Still others pointed out that the historically predominantly African-American Jefferson Street neighborhood was not the main location for sit-ins, which were mostly conducted downtown. Bernstein told the Scene in May that he worked with community members who felt the name missed the mark.
Several weeks later, Jefferson Street Cafe hosted a soft opening, with the slogan “Gather, Converse, Reflect” written on the walls and printed on the backs of employees’ shirts.
While Bernstein tells the Scene the name of the establishment still could change, the Jefferson Street Cafe soft opening is an effort to get the word out and get people through the doors. The newly opened restaurant pays homage to the sit-in era, with large illustrations depicting African-American diners and police cars, as well as a literal depiction of redlining. The tables in the space, which is open with a modern diner vibe, feature collages of historic newspaper clippings.
Workers at the cafe said the new name was the product of a collaboration between Bernstein and the neighborhood, noting Bernstein’s intention was to listen to the community.
“The whole purpose of this place is to create a gathering place for the neighborhood, to reflect the heritage and culture of the neighborhood,” says Bernstein, “because development all around Nashville is changing everything."
Arnella Williams, a Tennessee State University student, says she found out through a job fair that Jefferson Street Cafe was hiring, but word of mouth has been the key catalyst in both business and hiring.
The restaurant’s opening was not heavily advertised, and is still missing a few final touches like a drive-thru, which is slated to be open as soon as next week. Jefferson Street Cafe’s menu is similar to those of other Bongo Java locations. The brand’s Instagram has not yet announced the official opening, but did post about a sneak peek yesterday.
The cafe is open 7 a.m.-4 p.m. seven days a week, with hours expected to extend later in the future.
