Notable Neighborhood Features Quick List

While part of East Nashville, Inglewood has its own distinct identity and sense of community.
Inglewood is a destination for foodies with everything from award-winning sandwiches to elevated bar food to homemade pasta.
The suburban feel of this neighborhood offers a quiet retreat for creatives, professionals, and families.
Mid-century ranch homes define the architecture of this area, but an increasing amount of new development is changing the face of the neighborhood.
Vintage and thrift shoppers will enjoy exploring Inglewood’s many vintage stores.
Music lovers can indulge their passion by browsing the shelves at Grimey’s New & Preloved Music, catching a show at one of the neighborhood’s many venues, or taking the mic at Sid Gold’s Request Rooms live piano karaoke.

A Neighborhood With (Pre)History

While Inglewood rightfully considers itself part of East Nashville, it has a distinct history, vibe, and even zip code. Like the southern half of the neighborhood, Inglewood’s story starts before Nashville became Nashville. A mound, constructed by Indigenous Americans sometime between 900AD and 1550AD, was located on the land now occupied by Home Depot. In the 1780s, the land was granted to John Evans by the state of North Carolina. Over time, the land was subdivided and sold, and Inglewood became a thriving farming community.

In 1881, The African American community of Rock City (not to be confused with the park of the same name in Georgia) was established. Founded the same year, the First Baptist Church Rock City still holds services today as the First Baptist South Inglewood.

The neighborhood didn’t earn its name until the turn of the 20th century when the first subdivision was built near what is now the Inglewood Kroger. The streets of this initial development are still lined with the original brick Tudor Revival and Craftsman homes. As the decades went on, more subdivisions were built. While the original Inglewood development had a strict grid, later projects feature brick ranch houses on winding suburban streets. Gallatin Ave became a busy business district in the 1950s and 60s and, while most of the original businesses have long since shuttered, a few of the mid-century modern buildings remain.

Inglewood Today

Today, Inglewood has become a suburban retreat close to downtown Nashville. The area has remained more affordable than the southern end of East Nashville even while boasting larger lots. Many musicians and young families have moved to the area to take advantage of the added space and privacy without sacrificing the artistic energy that makes East Nashville such a fun place to live and explore.

Unlike Edgefield and Lockeland Springs, Inglewood has few sidewalks. The vast majority of businesses and restaurants are located on Gallatin Pike, the area’s central thoroughfare, while most of the neighborhood is quiet residential suburbs. Although this makes Inglewood less walk- and bike-able than its southerly counterpart, the peaceful suburban streets are great for a casual stroll or dog walk. Residents can access the expansive Shelby Bottoms Greenway through its most northerly entrance on Cooper Lane. Riverside Village on McGavock and Riverside is an up and coming hub for food, coffee and the local pub.

Midcentury to Modern

Inglewood’s history is visible in the homes that line its streets. The original Inglewood development still boasts Tudor Revival homes from the 1910s, but most of the neighborhood is composed of winding residential streets flanked with 60s and 70s brick ranch homes, many of which have been thoughtfully updated.

Now, modern developments are adding a new page to Inglewood’s housing history. House hunters will find an increasing number of newly constructed condos, apartments, and duplexes. Several new developments offer detached homes with the conveniences of a condo community. New housing isn’t limited to multi-family and semi-detached houses, however. Home builders have taken advantage of the neighborhood’s larger lots to build spacious and stylish contemporary houses.

Culinary Creativity

Inglewood has become a destination for foodies throughout the city with most of the eateries located on Gallatin Pike. Nicoletto’s Italian Kitchen first made its name selling its bronze-cut pasta to local restaurants and farmers markets. Now, pasta fans can enjoy their homemade pasta freshly prepared and served with house-made sauces. The owners chose the location for its proximity to Mickey’s, a dive bar particularly beloved by restaurant industry workers. This no-nonsense neighborhood bar boasts an award-winning jukebox, classic bar games, and a curated selection of whiskeys. They also offer deliciously chef-y bar food courtesy of Mala Vida and Tantísimo.

Farther north, Sip Café brews locally roasted coffee served alongside fresh baked goods and scoops of house-made ice cream. Across the street, Shot Gun Willie’s serves Tennessee barbecue with a Texas edge, smoked fresh on location daily. A couple blocks up, Totos BBQ Express offers more house-smoked barbecue with a Latin-American twist. Nearby, Inglewood Lounge serves creative snacks and thoughtfully crafted cocktails all in a relaxed yet stylish space.

Up the road, TKO cooks self-described Chinese adjacent meals served up family style. They share their space with Mr. Aaron’s Goods, a small shop that sells fresh pasta, Italian fixings, and some of the best bagels in Nashville. Inglewood offers plenty of Latin American restaurants to choose from, but El Fuego is of particular note. In addition to pupusas, burritos, and fresh sopapillas, the restaurant boasts from-scratch margaritas both on the rocks and frozen.

We can’t talk about food in Inglewood without mentioning Michell Delicatessen a neighborhood landmark located in Riverside Village. This popular lunch spot sells some of Nashville’s favorite sandwiches (named the best in Tennessee by People Magazine) made with local ingredients. Next door, the Village Pub & Beer Garden offers pub fare and a curated selection of local craft beer on their dog-friendly wrap-around porch. Across Riverside Drive, Dose Cafe serves classic cafe food with a creative twist (including fresh, house-made baked goods) and expertly crafted coffee, tea, and cocktails.

Vinyl and Vintage

Originally located in Wedgewood-Houston, Grimey’s New and Preloved Music has made its new home in an old church off of Gallatin Pike on East Trinity Lane. Grimey’s is more than just a record store; the shop and its sister venue in Wedgewood-Houston have nurtured the early careers of local musicians for decades. The store hosts listening parties, in-store release concerts, and author events, supporting the local creative community. Around the corner, East Side Music Supply caters to Inglewood’s significant population of musicians, specifically electric guitar and bass players. They offer new and used effects pedals, amplifiers, and instruments as well as a repair shop.

Thrift and vintage enthusiasts will love shopping in Inglewood. Just behind Grimey’s, Anaconda Vintage sells vintage clothing, accessories, and home goods. They even offer a selection of locally made bath and body products in their small apothecary. Farther north on Gallatin, visitors to East Nashville Antiques & Vintage can find everything from musical instruments to vintage stereo equipment to furniture. Down the road, singer-songwriter Nikki Lane curates vintage clothing (including an impressive collection of stage wear) at her shop, High Class Hillbilly. The store has clothes dating from the 1800s to the 1990s.

Hit the Stage - Or the Trails

It’s easy to stay busy in Inglewood. The Margaret Maddox YMCA boasts a gym and outdoor pool complex. Members can participate in fitness classes, youth programs, and on-site childcare. Up the road, American Legion Post 82 hosts weekly live music, jam sessions, and even karaoke on Fridays. Their evening events are open to members and non-members alike.

Inglewood has plenty to offer music lovers. Located in a former brothel around the back and up the stairs from Nicoletto’s, the Bowery Vault is a cozy listening room with a small vintage boutique. The velvet-lined stage hosts local musicians, songwriters, and the occasional comedian while guests sip beer and espresso drinks at cafe tables. For a less intimate but equally vibey live music experience, The Underdog hosts great bands and serves affordable drinks seven days a week. For a more interactive music experience, Sid Gold’s Request Room offers live piano karaoke and delicious drinks - including a good selection of non-alcoholic mocktails.

For those looking for a quieter way to spend a day, Inglewood has some excellent green space to explore. In South Inglewood Park, visitors can stroll walking paths, play on the athletics fields, or take advantage of the activities at the South Inglewood Community Center. The Shelby Bottoms Greenway, which has an entrance on Cooper Lane, has 5 miles of paved ADA-accessible paths and more than 5 additional miles of unpaved natural paths.

If you’re looking for the food and entertainment options of East Nashville without sacrificing the quiet and spacious yards of suburbia, Inglewood might be the spot for you. This creative and welcoming community offers something for everyone, from first-class eats to piano karaoke to quiet park strolls.

If you’d like to buy a home in the area reach out and we’ll be sure to show you around and help find the right home for you.

East Nashville - Inglewood