Mt. Juliet's Waffle House faithful are getting backup. City staff revealed in a video posted Monday that a second location is headed to Lebanon Road, taking over a former do-it-yourself car wash where site work and permitting have already moved past the early-planning stage. Economic and Community Development Director Jennifer Hamblen and Communications Director Justin Beasley appear in the clip, walking the site and talking through the project's status.
Site Plan Approved With Conditions
The city's Planning Commission approved the Waffle House site plan for 12085 Lebanon Road on July 18, 2024, recording the action as "approved with conditions." That sign-off marks a key permitting milestone for the build-out, according to the Mt. Juliet Planning Commission.
Lot Details And Local Reporting
Local coverage notes that the site, a little more than an acre east of Nonaville Road, is being converted from a do-it-yourself car wash into the new restaurant, according to MtJuliet.com. Industry outlet WhatNow has also highlighted the 12085 Lebanon Road address and reported that construction activity appears to be moving forward at the lot, although the company has not shared an opening date.
The new restaurant would join the existing Waffle House at 326 S. Mt. Juliet Road, according to the chain's store locator at Waffle House. The brand is widely known for 24-hour service and late-night dining across Middle Tennessee.
Timeline Still Fuzzy
In a Facebook reel posted July 6, Hamblen and Beasley tour the Lebanon Road lot and talk through the project's timing but stop short of announcing a firm opening date, according to the City of Mt. Juliet. Coverage of the site says Waffle House has not released an estimated opening date or a detailed construction timetable, per WhatNow.
Lebanon Road Keeps Filling In
Lebanon Road has become a magnet for infill development as Mt. Juliet grows, and flipping a small car-wash parcel into a 24-hour diner fits a broader pattern of repurposing compact lots for quick-service restaurants, according to MtJuliet.com. The Planning Commission approval and the city's on-site video suggest the project is shifting from paperwork to visible site work, even if the exact opening day is still up to the developer and the chain.
Officials have not announced a firm opening date. For now, residents tracking the project are largely relying on the Planning Commission record and the city's Facebook reel, according to the City of Mt. Juliet.
