Mt. Juliet openings, closings: What's up with Grace and Mercy, Oishii, In-N-Out, others (2024)

Mt. Juliet has a number of new restaurants moving forward and some that won't be opening – at least not where originally planned.

Take a look. If we've missed any, let us know.

Grace and Mercy Kitchen: Opened in late August. Husband and wife Ronald and Tanika Glenn own and operate the restaurant, which specializes in meat and two food options and soft-serve ice cream at 9574 Lebanon Road, just east of the Golden Bear Gateway and Benders Ferry intersection.

Fried chicken is a specialty, Tanika Glenn said. Kimberly Diggs also sells KND Cheesecakes as part of the business.

All the operators attend Jesus is the Answer Church in Watertown.

Grace & Mercy Kitchen opened an existing building. Hours are 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday. To order, call 615-424-6317 or visit the restaurant.

The Peach Cobbler Factory: Franchise owners San Franklin and John Clark plan to open The Peach Cobbler Factory as part of Charlie’s Place off North Mt. Juliet Road this month after some delays.

They are part of a group who attend church together and have opened a new to-go and catering restaurant in north Mt. Juliet that specializes in soul food, cheesecake and gluten free soft serve ice cream.

Whataburger: The restaurant opened in July on the corner of Lebanon and North Mt. Juliet roads. A second is approved for the city’s south side on Rutland Drive near the Costco off Golden Bear Gateway with an initial estimate to open in the Spring 2025.

Texas Roadhouse: The restaurant has signed a lease to build a new restaurant at the Legacy Pointe @ Golden Bear development just off Golden Bear Gateway in Mt. Juliet.

In-N-Out Burger: Mayor James Maness announced that In-N-Out Burger is exploring a new restaurant in Mt. Juliet on the northeast side of Golden Bear Gateway and Interstate 40.

The West Coast based brand still needs to gain Mt. Juliet Planning Commission approvals, which Maness said will require a waiver for design standards.

Salvo’s Family Pizza: The brand has announced plans to open in a space at the new Green Hill Landing commercial building on Lebanon Road across from Green Hill High School. An estimated opening wasn’t immediately known. Sanika’s Indian Cuisine recently opened at Green Hill Landing.

Tim Hortons: Local business owner Naren Patel plans to open two Tim Hortons coffee and bake shops in the city. One is at 10576 Lebanon Road, east of North Mt. Juliet Road and near Park Glen Drive in conjunction with renovation of an existing building for a Shell station already renovated and reopened. Hopes are to open the Tim Hortons by the second quarter of 2025. Patel also is moving forward on plans to build a new Tim Hortons at 5120 Beckwith Road near the TriStar Mt. Juliet ER medical building on the city's south side along with a future BP station, he said. Hopes to open on Beckwith Road are the third quarter of 2025.

Keke's Breakfast Cafe and Chipotle Mexican Grill: The restaurant is being built on Lebanon Road where the former Stylemasters salon was at before it moved to another location off Nonaville Road. Keke's estimated a 2025 opening date earlier this year, but did not estimate an opening when recently asked. Chipotle has estimated opening by the end of 2024, a company spokesperson has said.

Nicoletto’s: A site plan has been approved for a 1,185-square-foot walkup restaurant on the east side North Mt. Juliet Road for Nicoletto’s Pasta Co. A construction timeline was uncertain.

Andy’s Frozen Custard: A site plan for a walk-up and drive thru building at 4024 North Mt. Juliet Road is approved. Groundbreaking is expected in the coming weeks, property owner Mark Lineberry said.

Oishii closes with Korean restaurant to come

Oishii Asian Steak and Sushi: The restaurant in Mt. Juliet Village anchored by Publix on Lebanon Road had closed for remodeling with a building permit displayed in front. New signage is now displayed for a coming soon restaurant specializing in Korean fried chicken and ramen noodles named K-PALDO. City officials had estimated the new restaurant opening around September or October.

Closings or what happened to:

Cinnaholic: Announced to be part of an approved multi-space commercial building at the corner of North Mt. Juliet Road and East Division across from the train station, is looking for another space, according to the company.

Chick fil-A: The restaurant was named as part of a development plan on Lebanon Road named Greenhill Commercial on Lebanon Road, but will seek an alternative location and is no longer part of the development going forward, Mt. Juliet Director of Development Jennifer Hamblen said.

Burger King: Closed temporarily in mid-July with an ongoing remodel and upgrade interior and add a double drive-thru.

Moreno’s/Carreta Mexican restaurant: The restaurant that has a standup pole sign Carreta Mexican Restaurant at 11540 Lebanon Road in Mt. Juliet west of North Mt. Juliet Road with Moreno's displayed on the building was closed after a fire, according to the city.

Efforts to reach ownership were unsuccessful and the city said no paperwork was yet submitted to indicate if or when a reopening would occur.

Reach Andy Humbles at ahumbles@tennessean.com or615-726-5939 and on X, formerly known as Twitter @ AndyHumbles.