Fido, the iconic restaurant situated in the heart of Hillsboro Village, announced it would officially close its doors for good on June 1, 2028. In early October, founder Bob Bernstein announced the closure via a statement placed on the wall just inside the restaurant’s entrance, alongside a countdown clock counting down to June 2028.
In his statement, Bernstein explained the reasoning behind his decision is focused on change, from Bernstein himself to Nashville, Tennessee, and its changing economics.
“We’ve been luckier than many and had a longer ride than most,” Bernstein said. “But things change. I’ve changed. The city has changed. And Boom Town economics has changed everything.”
Bernstein also wrote about his decision to make such an early announcement, something many longtime customers were confused by.
“I’ve never cared about the usual way. And I believe this is partly why Fido and our other businesses became trusted and welcome parts of their communities,” Bernstein said. “I don’t want our closing to be a sudden sad thing. I want these last years, months, days, minutes and seconds to be a reflection and celebration.”
Fido has long been established in Nashville since its opening in October 1996. Located in the iconic Hillsboro Village, Fido has been a staple for many Vanderbilt students and Nashville locals. Aside from its widespread love in the community, the coffee shop has a unique history that makes it what it is today.
The coffee-roasting cafe was originally a pet shop. It was named for both its previous life as a pet store and for the legendary dog “Fido,” believed to have discovered coffee alongside his owner, an Ethiopian goat herder named Kaldi, more than 1,000 years ago.
Initially focusing on coffee and roasting, it eventually expanded to incorporate an all-day menu featuring local produce, beer and wine. Fido has leaned into its community-feel through its brick walls covered in local artists’ sculptures and photography, as well as its study-hall-style tables. It’s clear that Fido’s reach has expanded beyond its initial goals. It comes as no surprise, then, that many locals and students are devastated to hear of the community staple’s upcoming closing.
Fido also gained a significant amount of notoriety due to the support shown by Nashville local and singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. In a 2014 TIME interview, Swift spoke directly about some of her favorite local spots around town, which included Fido.
“Another huge priority for me is having a good coffee place to go and hang out,” Swift said. “Fido has such a great atmosphere, and you can wander around browsing the shops in Hillsboro Village once you’re there.”
Fido also gained notoriety when Swift left the secret message “maple latte” hidden in the lyric booklet for her 2012 album “Red.” The latte was apparently what Swift had ordered while on a date with Jake Gyllenhaal, her ex-boyfriend who likely inspired her song “All Too Well,” at Fido in 2010. The maple latte became such an iconic piece of imagery in Swift’s fandom that Fido sold a variation of the said maple latte to customers upon the announcement of Swift’s engagement to Travis Kelce.
Swift’s connection to Fido is just one example of how deeply the cafe embeds itself in the Nashville community — a sentiment felt by Vanderbilt students, as well.
Junior Melina Angeledes expressed her grievances about the closing in a message to The Hustler.
“I love Fido, and I am so sad to see it closing,” Angeledes said. “It was such a great place for me and my friends to go for a great brunch and unforgettable debriefs.”
Natalie Gemma, a longtime Fido customer, expressed her sadness about the closing — but not without some feedback.
“I’m sad they changed their potatoes, and that is softening the blow of them closing,” Gemma said. “Kind of weaning me off their service in a way. Love them though, and they will be missed.”
Personally, as students who have spent many hours studying in Fido, we’re devastated by its closing. Every interaction with the Fido staff, every bite of the impeccable breakfast burrito and every sip of its incredible lattes have exceeded our expectations and made us fall in love with this eclectic space. As juniors, we’re lucky that Fido will still be here until we graduate, but coming back for alumni weekends and seeing its space abandoned will be truly upsetting.
To anyone who hasn’t spent a Sunday in Fido, we highly recommend it — it’s been such a huge part of our Vanderbilt experience. Needless to say, Fido, you will be missed — and we know we’re not the only ones who feel this way.
