Smokehouse and Seafood Dive Shutters Suddenly for ‘Renovations’

Midtown dive South Street taped a sign to the front door and shared to social media that they’re shutting the doors for a few weeks to renovate the long-time seafood and southern food restaurant. They claim they’ll close for just six to eight weeks, and then reopen.

Eater asked a passing employee the reason for the shutter, who said the reason for the closure was that the property was just very old and had fallen into disrepair, but that many were left without jobs. Tipsters also indicated the health department might have played a role in the sudden closure, but searches of the public Tennessee Department of Health came up empty.

The sign on the door indicated that two of South Street’s employees are working at another of their restaurants, Gold Rush on Elliston in the interim. A former employee additionally implied that Gold Rush might be next up for a refresh.

South Street Original Smokehouse, Crab Shack, and Authentic Dive Bar has been a Nashville landmark since opening in 1991. Known for the seafood broils, southern cuisine, and open-air atmosphere now featuring “Nashville’s only tree house oyster bar,” South Street has long been loved by locals. Will they actually reopen? Time will tell.