The Melting Pot is preparing to make its return to downtown Nashville, with managing partner Demetrius Kelley securing a new location at 315 Deaderick St. in the former UBS Bank building. The fondue restaurant’s comeback follows the loss of its longtime Second Avenue location in the December 2020 Christmas Day bombing. According to WSMV 4, the new restaurant is expected to open in late 2026 or early 2027.
The upcoming restaurant will offer a different setting from its former downtown home, with 35-foot floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Tennessee State Capitol. The expansive windows will bring natural light into the dining space while giving guests views of one of Nashville’s most recognizable landmarks, as reported by WSMV 4, citing an announcement from the restaurant’s public relations firm, Mainland.
The return follows a lengthy period of uncertainty surrounding the brand’s former Second Avenue address. The original restaurant was destroyed in the 2020 bombing, and its return to the historic location was eventually ruled out after the landlord terminated its lease. In January, the restaurant indicated it would look for another Nashville location rather than attempt to reopen on Second Avenue, according to WSMV 4.
Kelley, who has secured majority ownership of the restaurant, brings a longstanding connection to the concept. He began working at The Melting Pot as a server in the early 2000s while studying mechanical engineering before moving into the hospitality industry, according to the announcement cited by WSMV 4.
The new Deaderick Street address will give The Melting Pot another opportunity to establish itself in downtown Nashville, bringing its fondue dining concept back to the city’s restaurant scene after several years away. The late 2026 or early 2027 opening timeline remains the current expectation, as reported by WSMV 4.
