Clyde’s on Church is one of my favorite spots in Nashville. It’s just far enough out of the downtown madness to dodge all the crazy hooligans. But, it’s still close enough for you to feel that downtown energy. The beer selection is fantastic, and the food is glorious. They’ve got just about any game you can imagine – shuffleboard, and my two personal favorites, foosball and ping pong (I’ll take ya on any day). But, the brunch there is phenomenal. My God. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.
True story – I spent probably seven hours in Clyde’s one day. We went there for “Nature Boy” Brandon Vick’s birthday a few years ago. Maybe it was Poppa Bear’s. Honestly, I don’t remember. It was kind of a blur. I just remember showing up at around 11AM, pounding refreshing mimosas, and eating a burger that probably weighed eight pounds and had a fried egg on it. It was delightful, and cost me less than $20. Well, there was a ton of football on, we were running the ping pong table, I was sweating like crazy as I’m prone to do. It was a glorious day. I eventually had to switch to beer, and by the time 6PM rolled around, we had to go somewhere else. We probably made the place smell funny by then.
Anyway, my point is that Clyde’s is a place of great majesty and wonderment. It’s a place where time stands still. But, now it looks like ‘Clyde’s on Church’ is technically no more.
Courtesy of the Nashville Business Journal:
The change is subtle, but it’s happening: Clyde’s on Church is becoming Hi-Fi Clyde’s. And that’s not the only update coming to the Midtown bar and restaurant.
The rebranding follows the resolution of a legal battle between Chattanooga-based MF Restaurant Group, Clyde’s parent company, and Clyde’s Restaurant Group, a Washington, D.C.-based company. The D.C. company filed suit against MF Restaurant Group nearly two years ago, arguing that the Chattanooga group’s two Clyde’s locations infringed upon its trademark.
So, what exactly is going to change for those of us native Nashvillians who LOVE going to Clyde’s on Church? Absolute jack shit. Since it’s opened, it’s just been ‘Clyde’s’ and I imagine it’s still gonna be ‘Clyde’s’ for a long time.
But, you know – I do hate that those big wigs in D.C. have to put their noses in places it doesn’t belong no matter what. Always meddling. And, I’m sure any sort of lawsuit isn’t cheap to manage. So, I do hate that the fine folks at Clyde’s had to go through all of that.
But Monen, who co-owns the restaurant group with her husband, said the new name — a reference to “high fidelity,” a term used in music reproduction — previewed another forthcoming addition to the Midtown hot spot: live music.
The Chattanooga Clyde’s bar and restaurant already features live music, Monen said, and she and her husband have been thinking of introducing it in Nashville since opening here. Specifics and timing details are still being worked out, but Monen said she expects to make use of the restaurant’s back patio and an area near its front garage doors for performances.
Fun fact: when we were in Chattanooga last August for the Scenic City Invitational, we tried to get in Clyde’s down there on the final night of the tournament. It was so packed that we had to back out of line and head elsewhere. So, whether it’s Gig City or Music City, this is a brand that seems to be doing well for itself.
Now, they’re adding live music into the fold? Watch out, Nashville. Clyde’s finna own the city.
Not sure how I feel about the ‘Hi-Fi Clyde’s’ name change, though. I grew up in Nashville, listening to 102.9 The Buzz. It seemed like every five minutes, Zigz or whoever was reading an ad for Hi-Fi Buys. So, that’s immediately what I think of. Anyway, I’m sure they’re still just going to be ‘Clyde’s’ for all of us anyway. I hope no one in D.C. owns the trademark for the name Clyde and that all this mess is done with.
Just please don’t get rid of the ping pong tables.
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Alabama Crimson Tide football, the WWE, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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