Recent reporting has discovered an old-school Nashville dining spot is planning to make a comeback as part of a new development in the works. The Gold Rush was known by locals as a popular Mexican food spot and watering hole for over 44 years until the establishment closed down in 2019. Almost exactly five years after its doors shuttered, developer and real estate entrepreneur Tony Giarratana told WKRN News that he bought the trademark for The Gold Rush.
Originally located at 2205 Elliston Place, The Gold Rush will reopen in an under-construction building as part of the mixed-use Rock Block Flats project spearheaded by Giarratana. The team did not give an exact date for the re-opening but said it could happen as early as 2026, according to the WKRN reporting.
“If you wanted Mexican, that’s where you’d go and so we bought the trademark for Gold Rush,” Giarratana told WKRN.
Giarratana’s development portfolio includes both historical preservation as well as new builds seen as part of Downtown Nashville’s skyline. The city’s first high-rise apartments, condominiums, and the first modern urban grocery store since 1967 are all included under the Giarratana portfolio, according to the business’s LinkedIn profile. Giarratana also operates Elliston Place Soda Shop, which is located nearby The Gold Rush and was saved from permanently closing by the developer.
In its heyday, The Gold Rush offered patrons a classic saloon environment with smoky interiors, late hours, and a house-special dish called the Bean Roll, as noted in a 2019 article from The Tennessean. It was revered by locals as an irreplaceable neighborhood bar.
The business does not currently operate a website or any social media channels. Customers can stay tuned for a more precise opening date as the Rock Block Flats project nears completion.
