Chuy’s, a Tex-Mex restaurant chain and part of the Taste of Nashville program, announced March 25 that it was permanently closing its Broadway in Midtown Nashville location Friday, March 27, after 15 years of operation. Darden Restaurant, Chuy’s parent company, did not share their reason for closing the location.
A representative for Chuy’s told WKRN-TV the decision to cease operations did not reflect on the quality of their team, to who they are offering positions at other Chuy’s and Darden Restaurant locations.
With only two days between the store’s announcement and its permanent closing, senior Daniel Henricks expressed how the hardest part of the change was that it was so sudden.
“I think the thing that shocked me the most is just how quick Chuy’s closed after the announcement came out,” Henricks said. “It kind of just shocked me that this place that’s been open for so long by Vandy and has been such a home for Vandy students to use their Commodore Cash or meal money would close that quick.”
Senior Ty Fong recounted the many times he and his friends had visited Chuy’s since their first year, often going for the happy hour half-off queso and the large quantity of cheap food.
“I was a little heartbroken when I heard Chuy’s was closing down.” Fong said. “We just had a lot of good memories there. And so, when [I saw] Chuy’s was closing, especially on such short notice, we were like, ‘oh, shoot, we need to go. We need to get one last Chuy’s run in.’ So, it was sweet to go with everyone, but there was kind of this weird feeling of like, man, this is just going to be gone.”
Fong expressed sadness that his friends will not be able to visit their regular spot when they are alumni.
“I’m a senior, so like future reunions, Chuy’s won’t be here. The boys can’t go to Chuy’s in the future, at least not on our fake Vandy money,” Fong said. “It was almost like a comically sweet and comically heartbroken-type mentality with seeing that Chuy’s was about to close.”
Sophomore Brian Viner reflected on the memories he has from dining at Chuy’s and what he thinks made the restaurant so special, contributing a large part of its appeal to the “low-key” environment.
“I think what I really liked most was the atmosphere. It was always sort of a little quieter in there,” Viner said. “But I think part of the reason why I liked it so much was because it was where you could have good conversations with your friends, unlike other places in Nashville where you have to yell over some blaring music. I feel like I remember Chuy’s as the place where I had some of the best conversations with my friends that are now my solid friend group at Vanderbilt.”
As a regular diner at the Chuy’s Midtown location, senior Cami Krugel said she was surprised to hear the restaurant would be closing, as she never noticed a lack of customers.
“I’ve always really loved Chuy’s. It’s been a great place where I could get dinner with my friends,” Krugel said. “So, it was very, very sad to see it closing, very surprised. It always seems very busy, and I’m just really sad about it.”
Sophomore Lucy Czarnowski expressed concern over the decline in good restaurants listed under the Taste of Nashville options.
“I have less places to spend my Commodore Cash now that Chuy’s is closing, and that’s really upsetting me,” Czarnowski said. “I hope that we get it replaced with a new restaurant option.”
Viner shared similar sentiments to Czarnowski, expressing some concerns regarding the now smaller list of restaurants where Vanderbilt students can spend their meal money.
“Yeah, [I am worried], especially because Chuy’s is off. That was always my go-to [for] spending my meal money,” Brian said. “I mean, I personally have a lot of meal money saved up that I haven’t been spending, so I’m bummed that Chuy’s is going to be gone. Yeah, I feel like we’re going to need another somewhat decent Mexican restaurant to replace it.”
