The owners of West Nashville’s venerable Sperry’s Restaurant are planning to open in March two sister businesses within a Bellevue building last home to a Shoney’s.
According to a release, Trish Thomas and Al Thomas will operate Cafe Sperry’s and Sperry’s Mercantile in the building, with an address of 7745 Highway 70 S. The married couple acquired the property in March 2022 for $1.95 million, Metro records note.
Sperry's Mercantile
The effort to open the two food and beverage businesses comes as the Thomases will celebrate, also in March, the 50th anniversary of operations for Sperry’s, which is located at 5109 Harding Pike just outside the Belle Meade city limits and near Hillwood. The original Sperry’s Mercantile — which opened in 2015 and serves as a small gourmet market selling meats, sauces, seasonings, etc. — operates from a small building positioned behind Sperry’s (see here).
The future Cafe Sperry’s and Sperry’s Mercantile will operate from a building located adjacent to a structure that houses Royal Range USA. That structure had been, years ago, a multiscreen cineplex.
The release notes Cafe Sperry’s is a new venture, billed as a “craft coffee” shop that will offer drive-thru and dine-in options.
Also sharing the space will be a fulfillment center for SperrysMeats.com, an e-commerce entity launched in 2023 and via which are shipped Sperry’s meats, seafood, sides and gourmet items.
The future businesses will offer a collective 12 full- and part-time employees.
Founded in 1974 by brothers Houston Thomas and Dick Thomas, Sperry’s Restaurant is known for its Old English steakhouse décor and introduced what is believed to have been Nashville’s first salad bar.
Al Thomas, Houston’s son, purchased the business from his father and uncle in 2000, keeping the menu and decor largely unchanged to this day. Thomas expanded the business in 2006 with the opening of Sperry’s Restaurant in Cool Springs.
“As residents of Bellevue, my wife and I are excited to bring Sperry’s Mercantile and Cafe Sperry’s to the neighborhood,” Al Thomas says in a release. “The opening couldn’t be more timely, aligning with the 50th anniversary of Sperry’s Restaurant, a milestone I am proud to hit as a second-generation family business owner.
“If only my father and uncle could see how the business is thriving fifty years after they first opened the doors to Sperry’s in 1974,” he adds. “It means a lot to my family to usher in this next chapter of our business around the corner from our home.”
Sperry’s Mercantile in Bellevue will be open Mondays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Cafe Sperry’s will offer coffee, tea, espresso, pastries, sandwiches and snacks. The décor will take cues from Sperry’s Restaurant. The cafe will be open daily from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. for dine-in or drive-thru service.
This article was first published by our sister publication, the Nashville Post.
