It is not going to be the standard Fourth of July celebration this weekend, with the social distancing and the limited public merriment. But we can indulge in one holiday tradition: ice cream. Pied Piper Creamery is opening a new scoop shop inside Hunters Station for all of our Independence Day needs. The grand opening starts at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 4.
The former Pied Piper location on 11th Street has been temporarily shuttered since the tornado, and the building's landlord is taking on a long-term rebuilding project. Pied Piper owner Jenny Piper tells the Scene that she knew the people of Nashville in general and East Nashville in particular couldn’t wait a year for their locally owned scoop shop to reopen. So Citizen Market at 975 Main St. is becoming its new home.
“My favorite part of Citizen Market is basking in the success of others,” says Laura Wilson, partner and founder of Citizen Market, which is the retail outlet for the 125 small local food businesses that operate in two Citizen Incubator Kitchens locations. "It is made extra sweet when it involved best friends and ice cream." Pied Piper Creamery has been a core client of Wilson's, making wholesale ice cream for local restaurants as well as the 11th Street scoop shop for years.
Piper and Wilson have been friends for 17 years. Their sons are the same age and are now friends themselves. “It feels like working with family,” Piper says.
Piper has been fulfilling takeout and delivery orders from Citizen Market in Hunters Station since May, so this next step seemed natural.
The shop will stock eight daily flavors, just like delivery. If you have a favorite you’d like them to make, you can let them know when you get your scoop and they’ll add it the rotating list for your next visit (flavors are posted online and on social media daily). You’ll find the same house-made waffle cones and funny flavor names as you did over at 11th Street. Plus, you can get a burger, grilled-cheese sandwich or a taco from other restaurateurs in Hunters Station to eat with your ice cream. If that doesn’t scream “Independence Day,” what does?
Citizen Market is open Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-9 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Pied Piper Creamery delivery will remain available seven days a week.
