CityNowNext
Apr 18, 2023
On April 18, 2023, Essex Development announced The Hill Marketplace & Community Arts Center, a major adaptive reuse project in Nashville’s emerging South Bank District. The development transforms a vacant 27,000-square-foot former souvenirs warehouse at 34 Rutledge Street into a vibrant hub that blends art, culinary culture, and community engagement. Designed as a proof-of-concept for future mixed-use projects, the venue places art and culture at its core, with walls featuring more than a dozen original murals by local artists, including several installations by muralist Eric “Mobe” Bass.
Inside, the space will host a boutique farmer’s market, retail stalls, and a live performance stage, while also incorporating culinary and creative elements such as a coffee house, cocktail bar, and food truck staging area made possible by repurposing the old loading dock. Dedicated podcast and music studios will function as incubators for emerging artists, further reinforcing the project’s creative mission. In addition to supporting local entrepreneurs and performers, Essex has donated space to the Nashville Children’s Theatre to help expand its programming and host select performances.
According to Essex Development Managing Partner Matt Williams, the vision for The Hill is to create a place where the community can gather while providing meaningful opportunities to support local artists and businesses. In doing so, the project reflects Essex’s broader goal of merging culture, commerce, and community to shape Nashville’s South Bank as a destination for innovation and collaboration.