UPDATE 7.29.13
The grand opening of Gray’s is this Sunday, Aug 4th beginning at 7pm. We talked with Joni Cole, owner of Gray’s and she let us in on what the new Gray’s has to offer patrons. Check it out and learn about the history of Gray’s, the new drinks and the fabulous menu. Don’t forget to visit Gray’s this Sunday night to see the lighting of the sign, which has remained unlit for almost a decade!
UPDATE 7.23.13
Due to a a collapsed sewer line on Main Street, the grand opening of Gray’s has been delayed. The grand opening will be Sunday, Aug 4, instead of this Sunday, July 28th.
Invitation-only soft openings will take place Wednesday through Friday of next week, with the Taste of GRAYS event scheduled to start at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 4. The following Monday, Aug. 5, GRAYS on Main will be open for business at 11 a.m.
Original Story
The long anticipated opening of Gray’s on Main is finally scheduled for Sunday, July 28th. After more than a year of renovations, the street will close and the doors will open from 7-10 p.m. Tours of the entertainment venue and eatery will be offered and the seldom lit sign will come to life.
The street closure will be from 4th Avenue to Public Square and live music, tastes of cuisine and tours of the location will fill the evening’s schedule. Owners Michael and Joni Cole have spent the past 15 months renovating the interior space with nods to the building’s rich legacy. The Coles say that the July 28 event will be both a celebration of the Gray’s Drug story and a ceremony to kick off the GRAYS on Main operations.
“Gray’s is sentimental for so many people, and we hope to honor those memories through the grand opening,” said Michael Cole. “Through the construction process, we worked to incorporate all of the stories and memories back into the building, and we’re excited to open the doors for others to experience it.” The Gray’s sign which has been a landmark for Franklin will once again light the sky and the menu for the restaurant will be revealed.
The culinary team, spearheaded by Chef Kenneth Jenkins, says that the offerings place a modern emphasis on Southern culinary traditions through clean, complex profiles that represent roots from the Appalachian Mountains to the low-country Carolinas. The menu will be fresh, local and ingredient-driven, with offerings changing seasonally. Emphasis has also been given to the bar menu influenced by “The Golden Age of the American Cocktail.” Beverage director, Jon Yeager, says he followed the marks of the brandy culture of the late 19th century. Grand opening attendees will also have an opportunity to purchase Grays’ cocktail creations.
“We are beyond excited to see this past year’s work come to fruition,” said Cole. “The core of our mission, throughout the construction process and extending through our service, is to celebrate the building’s heritage and the middle Tennessee tradition through our spirits, flavors and sounds. We are thrilled to serve a community that invests so much attention to preserving a culture.”
In addition to the restaurant and bar, Gray’s also has plans to host weekly entertainment on its second-floor music hall. Its third-story space is reserved for SOCIETY at GRAYS on Main, a members-only supper club. For updates about its progress and more information on the restaurant, visit Gray’s Facebook Page.
