Big Bad Breakfast is heading to Murfreesboro’s Public Square, taking over the longtime City Cafe spot on East Main and giving downtown yet another reason to linger over brunch. The chef-driven breakfast-and-lunch chain has signed a lease at 113 E. Main Street, with plans to serve its from-scratch biscuits, shrimp and grits, biscuit crumbles, and a signature Bloody Mary once the new location opens.
Lease and the Space
According to NAI Nashville Stanton Group, the deal covers a roughly 3,471-square-foot second-generation storefront at 113 E. Main Street that sits just off the historic square. The announcement notes that Priscilla Smith represented the landlord, while brokers Blake Swanson and Declan McGarry represented the tenant. Brokers described the space as a rare turn-key opportunity in a pedestrian-friendly corridor near the square.
What to Expect From the Menu
Big Bad Breakfast started in 2008 as the brainchild of chef John Currence, according to Big Bad Breakfast. The menu leans hard into Southern morning classics the brand highlights on its site, including from-scratch biscuits, biscuit crumbles, shrimp and grits, skillets, and brunch cocktails. What Now Nashville reports the company lists roughly 29 locations across nine states and already operates Nashville-area outposts in Franklin and Spring Hill.
Downtown Context and the Old Diner
The 113 E. Main address is familiar to locals. City Cafe still lists that location on its site and traces its history back to 1900. Brokers told NAI Nashville Stanton Group that leases like this reflect downtown’s momentum and continued demand for well-positioned restaurant space near the square. The addition of a regional brunch brand is set to further expand the mix of locally owned spots and multi-unit concepts around the Public Square.
Opening Timeline
What Now Nashville says Big Bad Breakfast was not immediately available for comment and that the outlet is awaiting updates on the opening timeline. For now, the lease puts a recognizable brunch name in the square’s dining lineup as downtown continues to fill in.
