Earls, a Canadian-based independent restaurant chain, is planning its Nashville debut.
Earls Nashville will join the 19-acre mixed-use development Nashville Yards on the first floor of The Pinnacle, a new music entertainment venue that is scheduled to open in March 2025.
The restaurant will be 8,600 square feet and is expected to open in late 2025, according to a release obtained by What Now Nashville.
The spot is from Vancouver-based Earls Restaurant Group, which has expanded its brand across Canada and into the U.S. since its founding in 1982 by father-son team Bus and Stan Fuller. The group, owned and operated by the Fuller family, currently has 12 locations in the U.S., as well as multiple locations across Canada. It has spots in seven states: Washington, Massachusetts, Illinois, Colorado, Florida, Texas and Virginia. The Earls at Nashville Yards will be the first location in Tennessee.
“We love Nashville. It has such a great vibrant energy,” Justin Heyninck, vice president of operations for Earls in the United States, told What Now Nashville. “One of the things that is very important for us is that we’re a place for locals first. Part of the reason we are so excited about Nashville Yards is because it’s this big, beautiful development that I think is going to really change the game in that part of town and we just really wanted to be part of that.”
The design for the Nashville location will include a wall bar and a lounge made with custom designed furniture. The restaurant will also feature a collection of art by local artists.
“One of the things we’re big on at Earls is community-inspired design, so every single restaurant we build is a nod to the community it’s in,” Heyninck said. “We’re right beside the new Pinnacle music venue, so we really wanted to design a space that nods to Nashville’s musical heritage, has a lot of Southern charm to it and has industrial vibes in the space.”
Chef Dave Wong heads up culinary development for Earls. Each location is designed specifically for the city it is located in. The beverage program will feature margaritas as well as other cocktails, wine and beer, according to the release.
The menus vary from location to location. The Washington-based Earls serves items like truffled parmesan chicken, cajun blackened chicken, BBQ ribs, burgers, salads and soups, according to the Earls website. It also serves weekend brunch with classic breakfast options like eggs benedict and omelets, and a full beverage program, serving cocktails, wine, beer and non-alcoholic specialty beverages.
“Earls is the perfect complement to our diverse culinary and entertainment offerings at Nashville Yards,” said Ted Tanner, executive vice president of real estate development, AEG, in the release. “Their company’s hands-on approach to curating a complete dining experience tailored to each of their restaurants will bring a high energy, go-to destination to Nashville Yards for our guests, residents and business community.”
