Shopping Downtown Nashville
Downtown Nashville offers a wide range of shops and service providers of interest to home decorators and remodelers. From lighting to home theater, from fine art to plumbing fixtures, it all lies within a few square miles circling the heart of Nashville.
Off the inner loop around town, take the Jefferson Street exit to a left on Cowan Street to Rexel Electric, where the showroom offers lighting fixtures for the interior, exterior, and landscapes. With Rexel’s policy to liquidate merchandise that doesn’t sell quickly, you can find some bargains at closeout prices.
To reach the farthest point of this shopping trip and work your way back to the heart of downtown, return to the inner loop and circle the city to the Broadway exit. Take Broadway west to its split with West End, and proceed to the Loews Vanderbilt Plaza, which shelters the Kraus Gallery, a fabulous collection of original art by Harold Kraus, a noted artist, and colorist. The gallery also features some beautiful glasswork. Ask for parking validation when you visit the gallery.
A few blocks further west leads to Sofa Seazon, which specializes in modern European furnishings, particular leather upholstered sofas and chairs. The signage is not large, but the showroom is far larger than apparent from the exterior, and you won’t be disappointed at the selection.
Turn left out of the parking lot and return east on West End and 18th Avenue to The Palmer Building. Park in the garage and take the bridge across to the building. On the 14th floor, you’ll find AVX, a home theater and automation office/showroom offering a glimpse of high-end options for your home. “We’ve found that if our clients can’t show us how to use their systems, they’ve wasted their money,” says Brian Rhodes. “So we go through an organized training process for all family members.
A few blocks further east on Broadway lies Renaissance Tile and Bath, where you’ll find a variety of tiles from more than 40 manufacturers ranging from marble and granite to terracotta and glass. Also available are bath products from more than 40 manufacturers. Whether you’re seeking the elegance of a traditional bath, a creatively different bath all your own, or mosaics incorporating hand-created and glass tiles, the showroom staff offers design help. And space itself will serve as inspiration. If you proceed west out of the parking lot to a left on 17th Avenue South, then a right on Broadway leads to Lyle Avenue. At its intersection with Broadway, you’ll find the Local Color Gallery. Since 1990, Local Color Gallery has been Nashville’s leading source for Tennessee art. More than 40 regional artists working in a variety of media and styles are currently represented.
Next door, the Midtown Gallery & Framers, a commercial visual arts gallery with an emphasis on contemporary painting. Works of more than 50 local, national, and international artists are represented. Works include oils, acrylics, and mixed media on canvas, paper, and wood, watercolors, and sculptures of wood, metal, and stone.
Proceed on Broadway east across the city’s inner interstate loop, and turn right on 12th Avenue South, then left on Laurel St. to Kenny & Company on 11th Ave. South in the heart of the Gulch. The showroom holds a broad array of plumbing fixtures as well as tile and plumbing fixtures.
Head south on 11th Avenue; turn left on Division Street, then turn left on 8th Ave. South and go a couple of blocks to Downtown Antiques on the right. Nestled against the railroad tracks, Downtown Antiques is a 13,000-square-foot showplace to several antique dealers, sheltered in an old warehouse. You’ll find everything from Art Deco to Victorian furniture, as well as local and regional originals, lighting, and collectibles.
Turn left on 8th Avenue South and right on Demonbreun Street; turn right on 4th Avenue South and proceed four blocks to Mad Mod. This store features contemporary bedroom suites, recliners, sofas, chairs, dining and coffee tables, as well as vases, pillows, gifts, accessories and much more. The store also features work from local artists and its own line of ultra-soft 100 percent bamboo textiles, called Bamboo Comfort.
Go north on 4th Ave. South to Lafayette Street. Turn right at Hermitage Lighting Gallery, which includes Hermitage Kitchen Design Center. From lighting fixtures for every space, indoor and out, to high-end kitchen and laundry appliances and design, their 12,000 square foot showroom has it all. Whether you’re looking for fantastic chandeliers, contemporary table lamps, or certified kitchen design, Hermitage is noted for its large selection, friendly staff, design expertise, and the wide range of home products.
From Hermitage, take the alley to the left of the building to Ash Street. Turn left and left again to Lankford’s Bath & Door Designs Showroom which offers furniture and faucets for the bath and kitchen, as well as hardward for exterior doors and cabinets. You’ll find hydro-thermo massage baths, heated towel racks, and free-standing and wall accessories, as well as coordinated sinks, faucets, hardware, and accessories for the kitchen with the latest styles in copper, bronze, pewter, and stainless steel.
In East Nashville, outside the inner loop, lies Metropolis, an interesting shop featuring antiques, home decor items, gifts and more. To locate it, take the Woodland Street exit off the loop and proceed east on Woodland or Main Street to 10th Street South. Turn right and you’ll find Metropolis at its intersection with Fatherland Street.
On the opposite side of the inner loop, Nashville Glass offers glass and mirror products to make any room in your home shine. From custom frameless glass shower doors and endless mirror configurations to glass shelves, tabletops, and mirrors for other spaces in your home, Nashville Glass is the place to visit. Take the Charlotte Exit toward downtown, turn left on 11th Avenue North and go two blocks to find Nashville Glass on the left.
Also lying outside the loop is a thriving collection of shops in Edgehill Village at the intersection of Villa Place and Edgehill Avenue. The newly renovated plaza includes Urban Patio, which features a collection of outdoor furnishings, lamps, and accessories geared toward in town outdoor living.
Next door is Queen Bee, which specializes in small housewares and gift items, offers paper items including invitations, announcements, and wrapping paper.
One door down, Nest Interiors, recently relocated, features a collection of antiques, fine furniture, home decor items, collectibles, and gifts. “Looking for laid-back luxe? Find it at Nest Interiors in Edgehill Village, where the best part of your house may still be at our place,” says Stephanie Van Hoesen.
And across the interior hall lies Music City Gourmet, which offers small kitchen appliances, housewares, and all the gourmet cooking specialty items needed for the well-ordered kitchen.
There are a number of shops in the Nashville shopping district including:
AVX
1801 West End Ave.,
Suite 1420
615-613-0900
Downtown Antique Mall
612 Eighth Ave. S.
615/ 256-6616
Hermitage Lighting Gallery
531 Lafayette St.
615/ 843-3300
Kenny & Company
303 11th Ave. S.
615-782-8000
Kraus Gallery
Loews Vanderbilt Hotel
2100 West End Ave.
615/ 321-0541
Lankford’s Bath & Door Designs
800 6th Ave. S.
615/ 244-3750
Local Color Gallery
1912 Broadway
615/ 321-3141
Mad Mod
504 4th Ave. S.
615/ 297-5050
Metropolis
1017 Fatherland St.
615/ 262-4828
Midtown Gallery & Framers
1912 Broadway
615/ 322-9955
Music City Gourmet
1200 Villa Place, Suite 106
615-750-2379
Nashville Glass Company
431 11th Ave. N.
615/ 254-1345
Nest Interiors
1200 Villa Place
615/ 383-1511
Queen Bee
1200 Villa Place, Suite 110
615/ 327-9772
Renaissance Tile * Bath
1625 Broadway
615/ 742-0054
Rexel Electric
299 Cowan St.
615-312-7331
Sofa Seazon
2404 West End Ave.
615/ 942-9522
Urban Patio
1200 Villa Place, Suite 108
615/ 730-9764