Varallo's in 2023
Varallo's Restaurant — a downtown Nashville institution known for its spaghetti chili and breakfast fare and billed as Tennessee’s longest-operational restaurant — has permanently ceased operations.
Varallo's owner Bob Peabody says he's sad he was not able to continue business.
"I was hoping to either sell the business or maintain it, but the costs to operate were prohibitive," says Peabody, who worked six days a week at the business and employed three individuals.
Peabody says he was unable to negotiate a favorable lease with the owner, New York-based Linfield Capital (with local real estate professional Rob Lowe also having some ownership). The address of the 119-year-old restaurant, which also served burgers, fries, fish and hotdogs, is 239 Fourth Ave. N.
Linfield Capital and Lowe also own the adjacent Arcade and have been able to retain longtime Arcade tenants Percy’s Shoe Shine Service, Seema’s and Tony’s Shoe Services.
Relatedly, The Peanut Shop recently closed but will reopen with new ownership, while holdovers Monty’s Barbershop, Manny’s House of Pizza and a U.S Post Office location previously ceased operations as updates to the facility (now finished) were underway.
Now on Fourth Avenue, the business has been slinging chili since 1907
The Varallo’s website notes that Frank Varallo Sr. immigrated to the United States from Viggiano, Italy, in the late 1800s. Varallo worked as an interpreter at Ellis Island in New York City before moving to Nashville to pursue a career as a violinist. He was later injured in a hunting accident and pivoted to operating a chili restaurant. Varallo's Restaurant opened in 1907.
As Scene sister publication the Nashville Post reported in December 2019, Peabody bought the family-owned chili parlor business from Todd Varallo, a fourth-generation member of the Varallo family. Todd Varallo had run the business for 34 years at the time of the transaction.
Varallo's was known for its basic menu with reasonably priced options and its old-school interior vibe. It was open Mondays through Fridays from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon.
This article was first published by our sister publication, the Nashville Post.
