Nashville’s legendary Elliston Place Soda Shop has reopened its doors following an extensive restoration that returns to Soda Shop lovers the mouthwatering milkshakes and meat-and-three meals they crave, plus modern-day features sure to attract a new generation of devoted regulars. Yes, Miss Linda’s famous pies are still on the menu and she is there to serve them.
The new locale at 2105 Elliston Place is awash in the original period details that characterized the beloved original known for its vintage red and white décor accented by gleaming stainless stools and counters. Only now the Soda Shop is brighter and bigger, with an updated yet still classic menu and more than double the original seating capacity. First opened in 1939, the Soda Shop soon became the place where the city’s famous, not-yet-famous, and regular families gathered to meet, greet, and eat. Today’s diners are welcome to experience much more of the same, including:
- More booths, tables and fountain stools to accommodate up to 150 diners
- A vintage soda fountain replete with phosphate and dozens of toppings
- Data and electrical outlets at each booth
- Wurlitzer jukebox loaded with CDs
- Live-music stage for regular singer/songwriter nights
- Full-service bar with spiked milkshakes
- Outdoor dining and a walk-up window for to-go orders
- Free parking
“The restoration of Elliston Place Soda Shop was a labor of love,” says Nashville real estate developer Giarratana, who bought the Soda Shop with his wife, Lisa, in 2019 immediately after former owner announced plans to shutter it. “When I first came to town over 30 years ago, the Soda Shop welcomed me with open arms. I’d take a little sass from Miss Linda and treat our kids to the best pies and milkshakes in the world. We’re delighted to open the doors wide again to anyone looking for a delicious slice of Nashville like no other.”
Giarratana and his team have painstakingly preserved the Soda Shop’s original vibe, including tile, booths, and fountain stools in the old Soda Shop’s vivid red color; mini jukeboxes at each booth; and a refurbished 1947 soda fountain from Chicago. Moving the Soda Shop just next door – into the old Cumberland Exchange Building built in 1907 – created the rare opportunity to both expand the space and maintain it on the historic strip of Elliston Place known as The Rock Block, which has been giving up-and-coming Nashville singer-songwriters a place to play since the 1970s while the Soda Shop gives them a place to eat.
Elliston Place Soda Shop is open for dine-in and carry out service Monday through Thursday from 6:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m., Friday from 6:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m., Saturday from 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m., and Sunday from 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. The restaurant closely adheres to Metro Nashville’s COVID-19 safety protocols.
