Nashville Bits and Pieces

[dmillsphoto]

From the article

 

 

 

he Ikea would be the first in Tennessee, although sources say a second could be announced in Nashville in the near future.

[nashveit]

"the Ikea would be the first in Tennessee, although sources say a second could be announced in Nashville in the near future."

[rookzie]

I finished in '06 and I'm truly shocked every time I'm in town (usually I pass through at least once a year, stay for a day maybe every two years). Nashville has always been a 'big' city, whereas Knoxville simply has not.  I, personally, think that the changes that Knoxville, especially downtown Knoxville, underwent since I arrived there in the fall of 2002 have been astonishing.  Nashville has had people going downtown, even if they were just tourists going to Broadway and 2nd, for decades.  Knoxville NEVER had anyone go downtown unless you were working at the court houses or one of a couple of businesses.  Now people are living there, working there, and going out at night there.  Its CBD is a wholly different monster than it was barely 12 years ago.

 

It's sort of like if you have really short hair, a growth of a quarter inch makes you look shaggy.  But, if you have it on your shoulders, no one notices that quarter inch.  It's a matter of scale.

 

Why, that really sums me up. (had to snicker on that one)

 

Seriously, though, Nashv'l's spawning of its downtown 2nd Ave. district during the late '70s perhaps in part is what kept its DT from become all but deserted, in terms of retail, especially during the early '80s recession period.  Sadly, it's really not changed  a whole lot since then, as far as Church Street and the numbered streets of 4th, 5th, and 6th Avenues are concerned, compared to what DT had been or even could have been.  I had never spent any appreciable periods in Knoxv'l ─ mostly passing through about 20 billion times since the early '50s, a few trips to on the train from Knoxv'l to Morristown and to Asheville, during the late '60s, and very recently, occasional week visits to UT for some specialized CEU training in transportation.  But indeed I can recognize the discreet change that you bring up with DT Knoxv'l.

 

-==-

Edited December 17, 2014 by rookzie

[BnaBreaker]

"the Ikea would be the first in Tennessee, although sources say a second could be announced in Nashville in the near future."

 

 

That doesn't read 'a Nashville IKEA is imminent and a site has already been selected,' to me.  A Nashville IKEA could possibly happen "in the near future" according to "sources." A Memphis IKEA, on the other hand, is imminent and the site has been selected. 

Edited December 16, 2014 by BnaBreaker

[nashveit]

A few tweets from the author of that article:

https://twitter.com/mbjpoe/status/544886169918767105

https://twitter.com/mbjpoe/status/544886169918767105

[nashmoney]

Well....here she is    

 

http://www.commercialappeal.com/business/local/live-coverage-ikea-comes-to-memphis

 

 

Edited December 16, 2014 by nashmoney

[freema33]

YES! YES! It's official! I look forward to shopping here when I come home to visit. http://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2014/12/16/ikea-confirms-plans-for-memphis-store.html

[ariesjow]

I read the same things about a potential Nashville store on social media yesterday when the rumors of the Memphis store started to creep out. I didn't post anything because it hasn't been confirmed. I guess we'll have to wait to see.

Edited December 16, 2014 by ariesjow

[Rockatansky]

Nashville's quiet (slightly) bigger sibling to the west.

While the city of Memphis is larger than the city of Nashville, the Nashville MSA is larger both in terms of population (1.76m vs 1.34m) and economy. The Nashville MSA is also growing significantly faster and MSA's are a truer measure of a city's size than arbitrary city limits.

[samsonh]

The obsession nashvillians have with ikea is bizarre to me.

[smeagolsfree]

I would bet that the IKEA, if it does come to the Nashville are will be built in Franklin. You would want it off of I 65 for those traveling from Louisville or Birmingham. The demographics of that area make it a better fit. It would also be an easy drive from the Boro.  Just thinking out loud here.

[Paramount747]

Well, I don't need any furniture and if I did, I would buy local from Moxie, ET Burke, or one of the artisan or Mid Century Modern shops in Nashville. I try to stay out of any chain retailers at all costs. Once the new Turnip Truck is built in East Nashville, I will no longer shop at Publix.

 

In any case, this is very disappointing Ikea chose Memphis over Nashville. After reading his comments a year or so ago, which he had to back out of, I really do not care if he locates here or not.

 

 

This is disappointing for Nashville. I did a sort of poll around the office and 100% said they would still go to Atlanta to avoid Memphis.

 

I still say buy local and keep it local.

Edited December 16, 2014 by Urban Architecture

[Paramount747]

I want Memphis, Knoxville and Chattanooga to get as much good stuff as possible. We need the Big Four cities in this state to all be thriving.

 

WW

Not at the expense of Nashville. Sorry my friend, I must disagree with you on this point. I want them to succeed, but Nashville is where I live, so I support Nashville first.

Edited December 16, 2014 by Urban Architecture

[MLBrumby]

If I lived in Nashville... and I were inclined to shop at IKEA, I would have to have reason to go to Atlanta.  The Memphis IKEA will be right off I-40... and traffic alone is a reason to avoid Atlanta.

[Paramount747]

If I lived in Nashville... and I were inclined to shop at IKEA, I would have to have reason to go to Atlanta.  The Memphis IKEA will be right off I-40... and traffic alone is a reason to avoid Atlanta.

Probably right, but Atlanta has so much more to do. I will be there 4 days next week, but have no intention to go to Ikea! Like I said, I would rather buy what I need from a locally based business person. I may pay more, but my cash stays here. It does not end up in Sweden.

[MLBrumby]

^^^ Yes... and I still have lots of family in Atlanta. 

[UTgrad09]

I like the idea of a smaller IKEA. I think that signals a change in business philosophy....so Memphis...and Nashville...and maybe Louisville and Birmingham may all eventually have one and we can stop worrying about this stupid pizzing contest.

[BnaBreaker]

Probably right, but Atlanta has so much more to do. I will be there 4 days next week, but have no intention to go to Ikea! Like I said, I would rather buy what I need from a locally based business person. I may pay more, but my cash stays here. It does not end up in Sweden.

 

I beg to differ!  I think Memphis is a more entertaining city than Atlanta...but that's just me. 

[Paramount747]

I beg to differ!  I think Memphis is a more entertaining city than Atlanta...but that's just me. 

I do like the music scene in Memphis, but love the art and food scene in ATL.

[volsfanwill]

this is on facebook from a college friend who posted this morning about Nashvillians being mad about Ikea. he then said this

"They had better wise up. Our state government has been siphoning off resources from Memphis, Jackson, Chattanooga, Knoxville, Johnson City, Bristol, Cleveland, Sweetwater, Kingsport, Crossville, Cookville, Dyersburg, Athens, Martin, Elizabethton, Greeneville, Sevierville, Gatlinburg, Germantown, Oak Ridge, Maryville, and hell - even Clarksville and Murfreesboro for years. Cutting taxes for some by trimming services to others, all the while pouring state money into state capital resources, while bankrupting rural hospitals, small police forces, and school systems along with individuals. I love Nashville, but I live all the other cities in this state as well!"

[NashRugger]

^ I'm sorry, but that's bs.

[mirydi]

Ha, I saw this post on Skyscraperpage in the memphis thread. 

 

Yes, yes, yes, people in Nashville are proud of their new buildings and plasticized formulaic corporate bs "music" city and through their arrogant civic entitlement complex can't understand IKEA not going to them first. Whatevs.

 

 

and then there's this one.

 

Nashville elitism at it's finest. I didn't have the heart to tell him Nashville's Jack Black does a good amount of his recording in Memphis cause you know, all the studios have shutdown. Are we sure Stevie Wonder really spent three days recording at Royal recently. I still can't get over the Kings of Leon reference. Lord... the arrogance oozed from everywhere, I just let it go. Nashville is where it's at

My poor football team, somehow got bowl eligible, the last place anyone wanted to go was Nashville or B'Ham, Memphis was favored by most, cause Memphis. Shreveport was even more attractive, casino ya know Houston will do but there's not much a scene around their stadium either, lots like the Liberty Bowl in that respect but we over 40s can get our soul warming hate of the Whorns on.

 

 

This stuff is truly pathetic. Here's a link to the thread. It's all on the last two pages...http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=177212&page=159

[titanhog]

 

 

This is disappointing for Nashville. I did a sort of poll around the office and 100% said they would still go to Atlanta to avoid Memphis.

 

 

But...this will be on the very eastern edge of Memphis out by the Wolfchase Galleria...so you wouldn't actually have to go as far as Memphis proper.  Only a 3 hour drive.

[titanhog]

I've lived in both cities.  I'll stay where I am, thank you.

[Bezoar]

Interesting article that goes into the reason Ikea chose Memphis over Nashville (The rent, or land prices, is too damn high)

http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/blog/real-estate/2014/12/ikea-why-of-course-wed-love-to-be-in-nashville.html?page=2