Metro Councilmembers Speak Up on Behalf of Exit/In [Updated] - Nashville Scene

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As a warm breeze blew down Elliston Place on Wednesday afternoon, the planned press conference in front of Exit/In became something of a late-pandemic block party. Several dozen masked folks standing about six feet apart bobbed and swayed to roots-rock outfit Matt Daughtry and Friends, who soul singer A.J. Eason recruited to play a few tunes to warm up the audience. Since March 2020, no one’s been able to see a show at either Exit/In or The End, the two venerable venues straddling the strip of Elliston that has for decades been known as the Rock Block, and which was recognized with a historical marker last summer. It’s a good bet that in the Before Times, more than a few in the crowd — well, probably not the youngsters helping their parents chalk messages of support on the sidewalk — spent many late-night hours processing a show in the glow of the Exit/In marquee. This time, though, the sign didn’t feature any of the up-and-coming or nationally beloved acts that usually adorn it. It read, “For Sale- Nashville’s Soul.” 

On April 2, news broke that the property home to Exit/In and its sister bar Hurry Back had been put under contract to AJ Capital Partners, a developer known for luxury hotels. When the decision was made a few months prior to sell the property, Exit/In owners Chris and Telisha Cobb put a plan in motion, backed by Grubb Properties’ Live Venue Recovery Fund, that if successful would eventually result in them owning the building themselves. But while their offer was the same amount as AJ’s,  they were passed over — reportedly out of spite from the sellers, who were upset by the 2019 Save the Rock Block grassroots campaign that stopped a rezoning effort affecting a nearby property. The Cobbs pivoted, launching a GoFundMe campaign to raise money in addition to that pledged by Grubb, aiming to make an offer that AJ would find appealing. Wednesday’s presser was an opportunity for the Cobbs and venue co-founder Brugh Reynolds to thank the thousands of donors who’d given to the GoFundMe so far, as well as for members of the Metro Council to speak up on behalf of the club.

“Since 1971, this corner in Nashville, Tennessee, has been the birthplace of so many memories for so many Nashvillians,” said Councilmember Brandon Taylor. He represents District 21, which includes Fisk University and Meharry Medical College in historically Black North Nashville along with the Rock Block. He was elected to the post in 2019 in a race against incumbent Ed Kimball that went to a runoff. Taylor recently sponsored a resolution marking Exit/In’s 50th anniversary that was passed unanimously by the Metro Council. Wednesday, he also remarked on the venue’s economic contributions. “The city wouldn’t be growing without small places like the Exit/In.”

Brett Withers, representing District 6 in East Nashville, joked that there were probably a lot of his constituents in the crowd. In his capacity as vice-chair of the Metro Historical Commission, he offered a reminder that the Metro Council is the authority on rezoning requests that might be required to build a boutique hotel.

“We may not be able to stop you from getting a demolition permit,” Withers said. “We may not be able to force you to keep a music business open. But the moment that you come to the Metro Council needing something from us, we’re going to have something to say. I think that is what all of us are here to say — to current owners, to prospective owners. You have a really good tenant. You have a really good business, you’ve got a great culture. You’ve got something that cities all over the world would kill to have. Why would you remove it for something that can be replicated anywhere else?”

Councilmembers Joy Styles, a musician who represents parts of Antioch in District 32, and Tom Cash, a longtime Exit/In patron who represents Vanderbilt-area District 18, also voiced their enthusiastic support for the Cobbs and their effort. “What we need is rock music,” said Styles. “What we need are artists.” Some of the most pointed remarks came from Jeff Syracuse, who serves parts of Donelson near Opry Mills in District 15. He moved to Nashville at the end of the 1990s to begin his career at performing rights organization BMI, where he still works. 

“I’ve seen how many songwriters have struggled over the years — people can’t afford to live here,” said Syracuse. “We did not need a soulless hotel across the street, we don’t need another soulless hotel right here. We have got to make sure people understand that when they come to this city and invest in this city, they are investing in our culture, in our history. That marker right there speaks it. If you’re not gonna honor that, you shouldn’t be here.”

AJ Capital Partners hasn’t given any indication as to what it plans to do with the site, and as of press time hasn’t responded to multiple requests for comment. More than 4,200 donors have pledged more than $210,000 to support keeping the club in place and with the Cobbs in charge — surpassing the Cobbs’ campaign goal of $200,000. “Every dollar raised will go towards our bid to purchase the property,” reads a note posted to the venue’s Facebook page on April 8 after the goal was reached. “The higher the bid, the better our chances. We will proceed with a formalized offer shortly and keep you all updated as the situation with the property progresses.”

“The people of Nashville are not for sale,” said Telisha Cobb at the April 7 press conference. “We cannot be bought. If the past couple of days are any gauge of the passion and the persistence and the creativity and the love that people have shown our family and this institution, then we are in this fight not just for today or tomorrow, but for however long it takes to secure this place for another 50 years.”

“The people of Nashville are not for sale,” said Telisha Cobb on Wednesday. “We cannot be bought. If the past couple of days are any gauge of the passion and the persistence and the creativity and the love that people have shown our family and this institution, then we are in this fight not just for today or tomorrow, but for however long it takes to secure this place for another 50 years.”

There are some notable echoes of the fight to save RCA Studio A from the wrecking ball in 2014. Amid much public outcry, developer Tim Reynolds bought the property at 30 Music Square West with the intent of razing the building. A few months later, philanthropist Aubrey Preston gave Reynolds the price he asked to let go of the property — $5.6 million, or about 27 percent more than the $4.1 million Reynolds paid. With a whole lot of help, Preston preserved the site, now on the National Register of Historic Places, and it’s still making history. 

There are myriad variables that cloud any direct comparisons between the Studio A sale and the Exit/In sale. But there’s half a century's worth of evidence that, similar to Studio A, allowing Exit/In to remain in place would allow it to continue building the culture and economy of Music City one show at a time. 

“Progress is defined as forward or onward movement towards a destination,” said Chris Cobb. “My question to Nashville is, ‘Where are we heading?’ As Music City continues to change, we must take inspired action to ensure it’s still a place we want to be. So many Nashville residents have to ask themselves, ‘Does Nashville want me to be here?’ Songwriters, artists — the entire creative working class who are the backbone of Music City. For decades they’ve done the heavy lifting that made Nashville a place where people want to be. We must not displace our creative working class. But if decisions continue to be made by corporations, out-of-towners and luxury hotel chain developers, our city cannot make progress. Nashville will head nowhere, driven by decisions that maximize profits but minimize people. And this must stop.”

Update, April 8, 3:30 p.m.: Exit/In's GoFundMe reached its $200,000 goal. Portions of the above copy have been amended to reflect this information.

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Metro Councilmembers Speak Up on Behalf of Exit/In [Updated] - Nashville Scene
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