is closing its Midtown location at the end of the day today, the company announced, and the pizzeria's owner, Kelly Black, plans to renovate the space and reopen it soon with a new concept, The Row, whose theme will be the fabled history of Music Row.
Black, a successful songwriter before he turned his hand to restaurants, opened Pie in the Sky at 110 Lyle Ave. in 2008. Before that, the space had a long history as a Music Row hangout, including its days as Longhorn Steakhouse.
"This building is where Music Row came to eat and drink for 30 years," Black said in the announcement. "Brooks and Dunn were introduced in this building, and legend has it the rights to 'Friends in Low Places' was sold for a bar tab."
The new interior will feature photographs and memorabilia celebrating Music Row singers and songwriters.
As for the menu, executive chef Robert Pittler plans to create a "New Southern food experience" using fresh local ingredients. Pittler is a veteran of Hard Rock Cafe who has worked at restaurants around the world. In 2004, he joined the kitchen at the Loews Vanderbilt Hotel's restaurant.
The Row will feature "classic mixology, a full bar and Midtown's only all-local and Southern regional draft beer wall."
The team is aiming to open The Row by early March. You can watch for updates on the new Facebook page or on Twitter: @therownashville.
Meanwhile, Black is scouting space in the Nashville area for moving the Pie in the Sky location. His two other Pie in the Sky outposts, Lenox Village and Cool Springs, are staying put.
