Nearly five years after a bombing damaged many of the facades of Second Avenue North's buildings, the street is nearing final steps in its reconstruction.
However, several structures are still set to be razed. The buildings at addresses 170 through 174 Second Ave. N., as well as 176 Second Ave. N., are set to be demolished, the Metro Department of Codes and Building Safety has confirmed.
More than three years since the Christmas Day bombing, the historic downtown district enters the home stretch of its rebuild
The Rhea Building at 166 Second Ave. N., which previously housed Rodizio Grill, is undergoing renovation on its front facade. Update plans for the shared wall between 166 and 170 are still in progress.
Following the bombing, the street and its underground water and sewage lines needed reconstruction. The first of three Second Avenue North blocks opened in June 2024, the second opened in December 2024, and the third block between Church Street and Commerce Street — which includes the sidewalk in front of the to-be-demolished structures — is set to open by the end of the year, according to the Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency.
The four buildings slated to be razed were listed for sale in November 2023 but did not sell.
At the time of the bombing, the now-set-to-be-demolished buildings housed Pride and Glory Tattoo Parlor (which relocated to Rep. John Lewis Way) and Simply the Best $10 Boutique (which relocated to Marathon Village), as well as some vacant space. In addition, the 184 Second Ave. N. building, which previously housed Hooter's, is set to be renovated.
Metro Codes did not immediately respond to a request for a timeline for the demolition.
The 2020 Christmas Day bombing damaged 46 business storefronts, with 25 of them having closed their doors in the months following. Businesses and foot traffic have suffered since construction started on the street in mid-2023.
Earlier this year, Mel's Drive-In opened nearby at 152 Second Ave. N., while a building located at 217 Second Ave. N. sold for $5.1 million, and the Old Spaghetti Factory site sold for $17.5 million.
This article was first published by our sister publication, the Nashville Post.
