Joanie’s is about to spread out on Murfreesboro’s Public Square, taking over the storefront right next door and nearly doubling its footprint. The expansion will fold in a new coffee-and-wine concept, complete with lounge seating, a combined coffee and bar counter, and a back dining room reserved for overflow and private events. The move comes after a nearby coffee shop shut its doors and the neighboring unit opened up.
New Layout: Coffee, Wine and Private Events
The front of the new space will be built out with casual lounge seating wrapped around a unified coffee-and-bar counter, while the rear portion is slated to function as a flexible dining room that can handle both overflow and private bookings, according to What Now Nashville. Owner Jason Day told the outlet he was not interested in simply cramming in more tables. Instead, he is going for a distinct feel that plays off Joanie’s existing menu and late-night service, with the extra room giving staff more breathing space to host events without throwing regular service off rhythm.
Timeline and Long-Term Commitment
Day told What Now Nashville he is aiming to have the coffee-and-wine bar ready by April, although that target depends on how smoothly renovations go. He also said he has inked a 10-year agreement for the Square location and has no plans to expand Joanie’s outside Murfreesboro. “It’s an opportunity to be entrenched in that downtown square we love being part of,” Day said.
Joanie’s Local Roots
Joanie’s first arrived in Murfreesboro in November 2019 with a location on St. Andrews Drive and later followed with the Public Square shop, growing into a local go-to for scratch-made breakfast, burgers, and late-night brunch, according to The Murfreesboro Pulse. The brand, named for Day’s late mother, has picked up local awards and TV features that helped lock in its downtown profile.
Expansion Fits Downtown Momentum
Local groups have pointed to steady growth in retail and dining around the courthouse square in recent years, and Joanie’s new space is another signal that demand for late-night food and small-event venues is still going strong, according to Main Street Murfreesboro. The additional seating and a dedicated private-event room could help the square absorb busy nights and seasonal crowds, keeping more business on the bricks downtown instead of pushing diners out to strip-center spots.
