Several longtime local restaurants have announced plans to close permanently, adding to a year of losses for the Nashville dining scene.
Franklin-based A. Marshall Hospitality announced Oct. 19 that its 10-year-old steakhouse Deacon’s New South would close, citing ongoing economic pressures and efforts to strengthen its remaining restaurants.
“Downtown Nashville has changed tremendously over the past decade, and the current economic environment has created challenges that require us to make difficult decisions about the future of our business,” said A. Marshall Hospitality CEO Claire Crowell.
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Two days later, 51 North Taproom, a well-loved pub in The Nations, announced plans to close in December. The owners did not give a specific reason but described the last few years as “by far the most challenging of the 20 years being in this business,” adding that continuing to operate was no longer sustainable.
Other owners who decided to shutter this year have cited a range of operational challenges, including rising operating costs, real estate costs, rising rents, national chain expansion, labor costs, food prices and intense competition as reasons for closure.
The Nashville restaurants we lost in 2026
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After seven years, the beloved East Nashville restaurant, Pelican & Pig, located at 1010 Gallatin Ave., announced that its final day of service will be on March 14.
(CAMDEN HALL / FOR THE TENNESSEAN)
Punk Wok nearly joined that list. The izakaya and sushi restaurant at Sylvan Supply reversed plans to close Oct. 25 after a last-minute reprieve from its landlord, according to owner Clay Greenberg, who said it would also need more customer support to stay in business.
While the vast majority of 2026 restaurant closures in Nashville have involved local establishments, the same pressures appear to be affecting corporate chains. Earlier this year, the casual Mexican chain Chuy’s closed its Midtown location, and nearly all O’Charley’s locations across Tennessee also ended operations.
Here’s a look at the Nashville restaurants that have closed so far this year.
Deacon’s New South
Dining and Cooking