An exciting new dining destination is pulling into Brunswick. The Brunswick Rail Yard is breathing new life into an historic building, recreating it as a multi-concept restaurant space, set to open before the year is out, reports Daily Memphian.
Mitch Harrison and wife, Norris Ann Griffin, along with Homer Daniels, Tammy Griffin and Marshall Wheeler have partnered with Kendall Cooper to turn 5197 Brunswick Road into a unique dining experience. Mitch Harrison was kind enough to speak with What Now Memphis about The Brunswick Rail Yard-what it will look like and what it will bring to the community.
The Brunswick Rail Yard will follow its own unconventional model. The building will have four stalls which will house different concepts. Harrison explains that the individual tenants will have a great deal of agency over their tenure at the establishment. “They will have the opportunity to rent the space for as long as they want to.” he says. “If they want to try a week, fine, a month fine. There’s no lease for them to sign.”
This approach ensures that The Brunswick Rail Yard will be just as appealing to restaurateurs as it is to local foodies, providing opportunities they might not otherwise be able to pursue. Harrison states: “A lot of time they can’t get started because they have to sign a long-term lease for the building.”
While this method does mean that tenants and concepts may change, Harrison and the Brunswick team are taking measures to ensure visitors will always know what’s available. He says: “We’ll have a sign that states each day what is being served inside the restaurant, so as people drive by they can see what’s available.”
The Brunswick Rail Yard will be offering recreation alongside delicious food. The establishment will eventually have a video game room, and even accessing it will be a fun little adventure, Harrison describes, saying: “They’ll walk through a tunnel designed to look like it’s going into a side of a mountain, then through some saloon doors. We have not had a discussion about what type of games but there are companies in town that we’ll talk with who will come out and set everything up.” The game room, however, is part of the longer-term vision for the establishment and will not be ready as soon as the dining component.
The building will also have a “Huge mural painted by a local artist on the south side of the building-it’s going to be amazing.” says Harrison. The team also has plans to eventually expand to an outdoor deck, featuring garden lights and activities like cornhole and horseshoes.
Brunswick Rail Yard will honor the history and geography of its location through charming decorative touches with Harrison describes as: “We will have a model Train on an intricate track system hanging from the ceiling and zigzagging through the entire dining and bar area for our patrons to enjoy. Because of our closeness to the actual railroad track, approximately 100 yards away, we have a train whistle behind the bar and every time a train comes by the bartender will activate it.”
Brunswick won’t have to wait much longer to check out The Brunswick Rail Yard; Harrison says the team anticipates opening in late October or early November.
The restaurant promises to be one to watch, with limitless potential and room for evolution. Harrison sums up the vision for the space eloquently as: “Constantly trying to improve this as a destination location for anyone in the area that wants to come.”
