Fond Object Likely Faces Demolition [Updated]

*Update, Dec. 3: Fond Object's Jem Cohen tells the Scene that a deal has been negotiated with his landlord to extend the deadline for vacating the space. Fond Object will remain in its present location until the end of February. "We really need people to come in and shop so that we have a chance to move it to a different location or figure out next steps," he says in a text message. "People were calling in thinking the store was closed already, so I'm trying to let people know that we aren't!"

Original post:

The real estate development firm that has been planning to build on a group of properties in East Nashville's Riverside Village — including one that's home to records-and-more retailer and music venue Fond Object — has made a move that clears the way to raze the buildings. 

As our sister publication The Nashville Post reports, ZMX Inc. had initially put forward a plan that included a specific plan rezoning proposal, or SP, that required approval from Metro. The SP was required to redevelop the property in a way that would update the current building for use by a new tenant (a proposed combination pizza restaurant and vintage motorcycle showroom/repair shop) and create up to 33 residential units on the adjoining parcels of land.

After multiple iterations of the proposal failed to gain the support of area residents, the company has withdrawn it. They're expected to go ahead with a plan that includes demolishing the existing store structure at 1313 McGavock Pike, as well as houses along Riverside Drive headed north — a use of the property that's allowed per its base zoning. This information comes from a statement that Metro Councilmember Anthony Davis, whose district includes Riverside Village, posted to the Inglewood Facebook group on Monday.

Fond Object co-founder Jem Cohen tells the Scene that he has received a letter from Lance Bloom, who owns the property, stating that the business must be out of the building by Dec. 31. Negotiations are ongoing, with the potential result that the store and venue could stay in place longer, but no agreement has yet been reached.