On Haywood Lane in South Nashville, Deir Café’s newest location has quietly turned into a late‑night living room for the city’s Muslim community, mixing Palestinian coffeehouse traditions with after‑hours hospitality and a built‑in prayer space. The colorful lattes, long communal tables, and a well‑used pool table have drawn lines during Ramadan and a steady flow of regulars the rest of the year. Neighbors describe it as a softer, quieter alternative to bar‑hopping and a place where no one is in a hurry to leave.
The Haywood Lane shop opened in February and clocks in at roughly 5,800 square feet, giving the Wedgewood‑Houston‑born brand room to stretch out with more seating and longer hours. During Ramadan, staff kept the lights on until 3 a.m., and one especially busy night brought car lines snaking outside and a full run on whole milk, according to the Nashville Banner.
Late‑Night Ramadan Crowds
For many local Muslims, Deir has joined a small but growing roster of sober, late‑night cafés where people can break the fast, pray and linger well past sunset. WPLN reported that the original Wedgewood‑Houston Deir often fills up by 10 p.m., with owner Abdallah Gumiza telling the outlet, “We love night cafes... People hang out till 1 a.m.”
Growth on Paper
The expansion was already in motion on city paperwork before the doors opened. Permit records flagged the Haywood Lane buildout in January, and Davidson County’s new‑business list shows a Deir license dated Feb. 28. What Now Nashville reported the permit filing, and the county roll confirms the license through Davidson County Source.
Menu, Prayer Space and Room to Linger
Deir’s menu stretches to nearly 70 drinks, pairing signature lattes flavored with cardamom, dates, and pistachio alongside matcha and other trend‑driven options. The Haywood Lane café also keeps mats on hand for isha and tarawih prayers and pours many of its vividly colored drinks into oversized 20‑ounce cups, according to Deir Café.
From Gaza to Nashville
Owner Abdallah Gumiza, 33, spent much of his life in Gaza, completed medical school in Egypt, and worked in emergency rooms there before returning to Nashville to open Deir. That path now shapes both the menu and the café’s emphasis on care and hospitality. WPLN notes how those ties infuse the shop’s mission and atmosphere.
Community leaders say the café is already doing more than pouring coffee. Rashed Fakhruddin, director of outreach at the Islamic Center of Nashville, told the Nashville Banner he loves the “vibes, hospitality, and feel of Palestinian culture” at Deir and believes the space pushes neighbors to slow down and truly get to know their Muslim community members. Gumiza has also spoken publicly about his hope to one day open a Deir in Gaza, linking the Nashville business back to family land thousands of miles away.
