Nashville Public Radio’s Tony Gonzalez has an excellent story today that examines the latest phase of development on Music Row. Gonzalez explains how the proposed construction by Panattoni Development is very likely to further affect the character of 16th Avenue South.
The area has historically been populated by music businesses in all manner of buildings, from the large complex that’s home to RCA Studio A (saved from the wrecking ball four years ago) to residential structures repurposed as commercial spaces. Carolyn Brackett, a field officer for the National Trust for Historic Preservation — who also spoke to Adam Gold earlier this year for a Scene story about the increasing pace of Music Row development — points out that the area's history of related music businesses coming together in this way is a unique one.
Panattoni has yet to file official plans for their proposed office building, which representative Whitfield Hamilton says is expected to attract music businesses that need newer, larger facilities. But it still looks like the change stands to squeeze out smaller businesses like longtime Music Row fixture Bobby’s Idle Hour. The lease for 1028 16th Ave. S. will not be renewed in January, and the bar’s current owner, “Lizard” Thom Case, tells Gonzalez that he’s yet to find a place to move it.
The Idle Hour has survived a similar grim predicament before. As Kay West wrote in a 2004 Scene cover story, then-owners Bobby and Dianne Herald (who’d been running the place since 1978, when they added “Bobby’s” to the front of the name of the long-standing establishment) were given 45 days to wrap up operations. Luckily, they found a new home just up the street, where the bar stands today, and held a grand opening in April 2005.
The familiar, easygoing character of the spot (something that people seem to appreciate about Nashville in general, even if that image is a bit romanticized) seems largely to have remained. Part of the continuing preservation efforts include the National Trust delivering a petition to the Metro Planning Commission, asking for rule changes. If that effort succeeds, we can hope it will at least provide some more opportunities for people to have a say in how the area changes.
Still, with Nashville real estate prices as high as they are today, the chances of Case finding a comparable spot nearby seem slim. Maybe he’ll be able to move to a different neighborhood, as Grimey’s has (though the record store made its move voluntarily). But if that happens, Bobby’s will be another neighborhood's bar.
