UPDATED: This story was updated at approximately 11 a.m. on Nov. 4 to include a comment from Anzie Blue Co-Owner Marcie Allen Van Mol regarding Anzie Blue’s status as a Taste of Nashville Restaurant.
Anzie Blue, a Taste of Nashville restaurant in Hillsboro village and CBD cafe, is set to close on Dec. 18, according to an Oct. 26 announcement. This closure comes amid other restaurant closures near Vanderbilt. Mellow Mushroom on 21st Avenue, another Taste of Nashville spot, recently announced its shutdown, along with Tavern, a student favorite in Midtown.
The Nashville Business Journal reported that Anzie Blue will reopen in January under the same owners as an event venue. In a message to The Hustler, Anzie Blue Co-Owner Marcie Allen Van Mol said no Vanderbilt students are currently employed at the restaurant, and that Anzie Blue will remain a Taste of Nashville location after the December closing.
“Anzie Blue is excited to continue their partnership with Vanderbilt University and their Taste of Nashville program,” Van Mol said in a message to The Hustler.
Junior Sophie Stachurski said she is disappointed by the closing of the restaurant, especially due to its proximity to campus.
“I had only been a few times but I really enjoyed it. It’s good to hear that it will remain on the card when it reopens as a venue as I like to try to stick to places that take the card when I can,” Stachurski said.
First-year Zach Williams performed live music at Anzie Blue earlier this year, and says that, for himself and fellow Blair School of Music students, the restaurant was convenient and accommodating.
“It even got to the point where they were booking Blair jazz students every weekend, both Saturday and Sunday,” Williams said in a message to The Hustler. “If they’re coming back as a performance venue and still intent on booking live jazz then I’m all for it, supporting live jazz and music is important—there’s not as much as you’d think in Music City.”
Van Mol told the Nashville Business Journal that a main reason for the change is a desire to support small businesses in their event endeavors.
“National and international hospitality groups, chefs and other businesses are opening up at a rapid pace and if we don’t support the small, locally owned establishments that made this city so unique, we’ll lose them all,” Van Mol said.
Co-Owner and Executive Chef Star Maye will also be a contestant on a television show that will be airing next year, which Van Mol said was another reason for the space’s closure as a restaurant. However, along with Van Mol, Maye will continue to be a part of the new business by creating menus for the various events hosted in the new space.
“I’m excited to create custom menus for all the new events that we’ll be hosting at Anzie Blue, alongside many of the events that the community has already come to know and love,” Maye said.
According to the Nashville Business Journal, current Anzie Blue employees can choose to keep their jobs when it reopens under the new business model.
