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As Levain Bakery celebrates 30 years of handcrafted cookies and neighborhood hospitality, they are excited to announce plans to open their first Nashville location at 2901 12th Avenue South in the city's 12 South neighborhood. The opening marks Levain's long-awaited debut in Music City, bringing the bakery's iconic cookies and welcoming neighborhood spirit to one of Nashville's most beloved communities. An opening timeline will be announced at a later date.
Founded in New York City in 1995 by Pam Weekes and Connie McDonald, Levain Bakery has made its name as the purveyor of crispy-outside, ooey-gooey-inside cookies in classic flavors, including the iconic Chocolate Chip Walnut, Oatmeal Raisin, Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip, and more. In addition to Levain's full slate of signature cookies, the Nashville bakery will offer a selection of hot and iced coffee and teas, freshly baked pastries, artisanal breads, loaf cakes, sandwiches on freshly baked baguettes, and a rotating selection of seasonal offerings.
After more than four years of searching for the perfect space in Music City, Levain found its Nashville home at 2901 12th Avenue South, the longtime location of neighborhood favorite Burger Up. When owner Jim Lewis decided to close the restaurant, he began looking for a new partner that would preserve the space’s role as a neighborhood gathering spot. In the bright, corner space, Levain found exactly what it had been searching for: a location in the heart of a walkable neighborhood with a strong sense of community and a unique, creative spirit.
"We've wanted to bring Levain to Nashville for years, but for us the right location matters just as much as the bakery itself," said founders Pam Weekes and Connie McDonald. "The moment we walked into the space, we knew it was the one. It's not often you get the opportunity to step into a place that already means so much to so many people, and we recognized right away what a special role Burger Up has played in this community. We feel honored to carry that legacy forward as the next stewards of a neighborhood gathering place. Our hope is that this bakery becomes somewhere friends meet over coffee, families stop in after school, and neighbors continue making memories for years to come.”
"Change is never easy, but I’m incredibly proud of what Burger Up has meant to this neighborhood and excited to see the space begin its next chapter,” said Jim Lewis, owner of Burger Up. “I chose Levain because I believe they’ll be thoughtful partners, wonderful neighbors and a great addition to the community we all love.”
As they have in every city they enter, Levain will look for ways to become part of the fabric of Nashville, from hiring from the neighborhood's hospitality talent pool to community partnerships and donating opening day proceeds to a nonprofit in the area (details to be announced closer to opening).
For more information, please visit www.levainbakery.com or follow along on social media at @levainbakery.