Glasshaüs Is a Different Kind of Coffee Shop

Like molten glass, Glasshaüs takes more than one shape. It’s challenging to quickly sum up the new Berry Hill business. At its core, Glasshaüs is a glass-art gallery and studio. Its 10,000 square feet provide ample space to host all kinds of events — food events, casual drinks, glass-blowing demonstrations resulting in a piece of art you can take home. Casual visitors can stroll in to peruse the gallery and enjoy Glasshaüs’ gorgeous coffee shop, restaurant and bar. 

We have Wyatt Maxwell to thank for this new gem. A local with a keen business sense, lots of creativity and all the right connections, Maxwell studied at Centre College in Danville, Ky., before ultimately receiving a degree from Belmont University. Centre College happened to have a glass studio next to the clay studio that Maxwell frequented, which ignited his love for the craft. After working a few jobs post-college, he wanted to pivot to work he felt more passionate about. Enter Glasshaüs. Maxwell says the idea was born when he realized there weren’t other glass studios in Nashville, though he knew he’d need to find different ways to bring people in.

“A glass studio would not be an easy business to operate — just glass,” says Maxwell. “That’s limiting because people aren’t used to glass. … But if [it’s] able to be put on top of another business like an event space or a bar or a coffee shop or a restaurant, it can work really well.”

And so that’s what Maxwell did. When you walk into Glasshaüs, which opened in November, you’ll quickly notice the beautiful glass that’s incorporated into every detail of the shop, from pieces decorating the dining room to those for sale in the gallery and even the vessels that coffee and cocktails are served in. All of it is for sale. People can also work with resident artisans to develop custom orders like barware or glass light installations (which they’ll also install).

“We want people to start stocking their houses with local, handmade glass,” says Maxwell.

You can also find pieces that aren’t made locally in the Maxwell Gallery, which is curated by Maxwell’s mother Juliana. The gallery features an eclectic mix of pieces that might challenge your idea of how glass can be used as an art form. Vibrant bowls throw colorful light onto the gallery’s surfaces, surrounded by beautiful, gravity-defying sculptures, gigantic goblets, uniquely shaped vases, realistic-looking antlers and so much more — all of which feature striking colors. The gallery is currently featuring works by Asher Holman, Paul Nelson, Robert Burch, Hayden Wilson, Grant Garmezy and Sam Spees — plus the particularly special work of Stephen Rolfe Powell. An acclaimed glass artist whose work has been shown across the word, Powell taught Maxwell at Centre College. Because of a connection with Powell’s family, the folks at Glasshaüs were able to bring in art that they likely wouldn’t be able to feature otherwise. 

You can also expect to see artists creating in real time. On March 15, Glasshaüs will host John Miller, whose works are already featured in the space. Miller is the artist behind the playful sets of giant keys currently hanging around the building, and the glass hamburger-and-fries sculptures. He’ll stop by to give a live presentation while creating a pint glass, alongside other St. Patrick’s Day-themed activities, including a performance from an Irish folk band. Past events have included pop-up dinners with live glass-making, DJ sets and a Nashville Soccer Club game-day party done in collaboration with Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint. Folks can also sign up for one-on-one glass-making classes to create a range of different items throughout the year. Maxwell says they’re planning to add more advanced classes for those who are interested in learning the skill more seriously. 

But there’s more here than glass art. Glasshaüs’ creative takes on food and coffee include a limited but fresh lineup of breakfast and lunch-centric options, such as a requisite avocado toast that consists of locally made sourdough, a spicy, nutty salsa and pumpkin seeds. With beans roasted in-house, Glasshaüs features your typical coffee-shop items, plus seasonal options you can discuss with the barista. One special cold brew is made from coffee beans that were aged in a whiskey barrel before being roasted. And that’s not to mention the cocktails.

For those looking to add a new spot to their repertoire of local coffee shops, Glasshaüs is it. The laid-back open dining room is a perfect place to get some work done, take a meeting, gather with friends or sit alone and relax. A stroll through the gallery can spark conversation and inspiration, and you can count on a friendly staff to guide you through it all. 

“We want to know your name, we want to know your order,” says Maxwell. “We want to meet you and actually have a real community.”