Many Nashvillians are familiar with the family-style dining that is Monell’s: sitting next to strangers, passing around shared Southern food. It’s a uniquely Nashville experience.
At the restaurant’s second location — Monell’s at the Manor — meals are heightened by the grandeur of the setting: an old, Greek Revival-style mansion. But, there’s a chance that it may not be around for much longer.
That’s because Monell’s at the Manor isn’t just unique in its setting — it is also unique in its proximity to Nashville International Airport. Located just off Murfreesboro Pike, the sound of airplanes flying overhead serves as a recurring soundtrack to mealtimes. Conversations are often peppered with “Donelson pauses” — those lulls in chatter while patrons wait for the roar of a jet engine to fade.
The site, called Colemere Mansion, was constructed by E.W. Cole in 1893. Cole was a colonel in the Confederate Army and the founder of American National Bank.
The building burned down in 1929, but was soon rebuilt by Cole’s youngest daughter, who modeled it after a mansion in Natchez, Miss. The city claimed ownership of the building n 1940. For a time, it was leased as the “Colemere Club,” a hangout for politicians and entertainers.
In 2011, Monell’s moved in. They signed a ten-year lease — which was eventually extended to 12 years — and last year it was extended again, for one more year. That lease ends April 30.
Today, the Manor is in need of significant repairs. And that’s where the potential closure comes in: because it is located within the airport’s operating area — and, more specifically, near a proposed runway expansion — the airport has plans to knock it down.
Earlier this month, Metro Nashville Airport Authority CEO Doug Kreulen told reporters that maintaining the property is not in the airport’s best interest.
“The building is in bad shape. It’s not financially feasible or per the grant guidelines to spend airport resources on that,” Kreulen said. “It was put there years ago. I can’t control that. But it’s inside the airport operating area, and I’m supposed to maximize that use for flight activity. And that restaurant doesn’t do that for us.”
Michael King, Monell’s owner, is asking for another lease extension to move the building. He says he is willing to pay for necessary repairs and the costs associated with the move — but, in order to do so, will need time.
“It would give us a chance to be able to go and do what we need to do, save the building, and also allow us to find the place to do it,” King says.
In recent weeks, community members have tried to demonstrate the value of the site.
Nashville’s Metro Council passed a resolution calling for the mansion’s preservation. The district’s councilman, Russ Bradford, along with King, helped organize a “Help Save the Manor” event.
Locals gathered to eat, drink and reminisce.
One attendee, Betty Currey, has lived in the area for 64 years.
“I think Monell’s has done a very good job and been very successful here, and I would love to see them continue on,” Currey says. “We don’t have any good restaurants on Murfreesboro Road. They’ve moved out a lot. Now, they’re taking history away from us.”
Currey touches on two points echoed by many of Monell’s patrons: the lack of dining options in the area and the building’s history.
“This is about Nashville losing historic property. And I think what is sad is this house has been through thick and thin and chaos,” King says. “But everyone in Nashville, when you look at it, it brings comfort because it’s been standing through all of this.”
So far, the Airport Authority has remained firm in its demolition plans, citing the building’s poor condition, its location — which is “normally restricted to activities that support the movement of aircraft” — and expansion plans.
Monell’s location in Germantown will remain open. But without an extension, Monell’s at the Manor could be closed this spring.
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