Little Hats Italian Market opened its doors at 4310 Veterans Parkway in Murfreesboro on Tuesday, bringing a slice of New York-style deli culture to Rutherford County. The new shop marks the chain's fifth Middle Tennessee location, serving up Italian sandwiches, fresh pasta, pizza and specialty market goods under one roof.
A New Home on Veterans Parkway
The Murfreesboro outpost occupies a spot with a short and complicated history. According to Rutherford Source, the location sits in the former Vui's Kitchen space, and per The Murfreesboro Pulse, Vui's Kitchen had closed its Murfreesboro location at that same address after only seven months of operation. Little Hats now joins the chain's existing restaurants in Germantown and Hillsboro Village in Nashville, as well as Gallatin and Cool Springs in Franklin, giving the company five locations across Middle Tennessee.
The expansion into Rutherford County follows a pattern of steady, measured growth for the company. Its Hillsboro Village location, announced in the neighborhood surrounding Belmont University, was described at the time as the company's expansion to a third location, the Tennessean reported. Beyond Murfreesboro, the company has said it sees potential to bring the concept to more communities, though it noted that no additional locations are ready to announce, according to the same report from the station's coverage of the chain's plans.
What's on the Menu
Diners can expect a menu built around Italian deli staples, including meatball subs, chicken parmesan, pasta dishes, salads and desserts. The restaurant's menu plans, as detailed by cfood.org, included pizza, house-made bread and sandwiches, along with fresh pasta supplied by the company's sister business, Alfresco. Shoppers can also pick up imported pasta, sauces, cheeses, cookies and specialty ingredients, with offerings described elsewhere as distinctive pastas, imported tomatoes, sauces, cheeses, Italian cookies and gelato.
The atmosphere leans into the chain's signature New York-style Italian deli vibe, with decor celebrating classics like Goodfellas, Friends, Seinfeld and The Sopranos. That pop-culture-heavy aesthetic has become something of a calling card for Little Hats across its other Middle Tennessee locations.
Timing Questions Before the Doors Opened
Pre-opening reports differed on when exactly the Murfreesboro shop would welcome its first customers. One report indicated the team was currently targeting mid-November for their grand opening, with an exact date to be announced soon, while another said the business was targeting a late November opening, depending on equipment deliveries and final preparations. The restaurant ultimately opened Nov. 10, ahead of both of those earlier windows. Little Hats announced the Murfreesboro opening on social media, and the new location is open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
