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Sam Fox partners with investor Justin Timberlake on new Nashville concept

First stage of the Twelve Thirty lounge and music venue is scheduled to open April 14

Ron Ruggless, Senior Editor

March 22, 2021

2 Min Read
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Sam Fox, the restaurateur behind such growing concepts as Blanco Tacos & Tequila, Flower Child, True Food Kitchen and North, is scheduled to launch on April 14 the first stage of a 30,000-square-foot personal project in Nashville, Tenn., that includes a refined honky-tonk with live music and a third-floor 400-seat Supper Club that will open in late summer.

Fox, who sold his Phoenix, Ariz.-based Fox Restaurant Concepts to The Cheesecake Factory in 2019, said the Twelve Thirty project is being built as a personal project that was a carve-out from that deal. Investors include Justin Timberlake, the “Can’t Stop the Feeling” musician, actor and Tennessee native.

The first two floors of Twelve Thirty, which include The First Level refined honky-tonk and mezzanine lounges, will open in April. The project shares a wall with a 90-seat Blanco unit that Fox Restaurant Concepts opened March 4 at the new Fifth Broadway development in Nashville.

The Twelve Thirty project has been in the works since 2017. “It’s been about four years in the making,” Fox said in an interview Thursday. “it's finally nice to see it come to fruition.”

An early First Level menu features shared appetizers such as pork belly dumplings and smoked trout dip for between $11 and $16, salads from $8 to $16, entrees from burgers to shrimp and grits for between $13 and $26 and desserts such as strawberry-rhubarb hand pies and peanut butter Goo Goo Cluster for $8. The bar features a selection of cocktails, punches, wines and beers.

Fox said he expects the dinner check average at the honky tonk and mezzanine club levels to be about $40 per person and the dining room, when it opens, to be closer to $120 per person.

A project spokesperson said the First Level covers 6,091 square feet, and the mezzanine level (with the 50-person sit-down-only Honorary Member cocktail lounge) is 3,454-square feet. The Supper Club level, which will be expected to seat 400, is 16,972-square feet with an additional 5,057 square feet on the rooftop terrace.

The Fox team worked with New York-based AVRO|KO, a design firm that has worked on many international hotel and restaurant projects.

The Twelve Thirty club is loosely based on Prohibition Era supper clubs, Fox said in explaining the name.

“During Prohibition,” he said, “the restaurant had to close and then they would go to speakeasies or supper club and most of those would open up at about 12:30.”

Read more: Restaurateur Sam Fox is set to open 3-level Nashville club with investor Justin Timberlake

About the Author

Ron Ruggless

Senior Editor, Nation’s Restaurant News / Restaurant Hospitality

Ron Ruggless serves as a senior editor for Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News (NRN.com) and Restaurant Hospitality (Restaurant-Hospitality.com) online and print platforms. He joined NRN in 1992 after working 10 years in various roles at the Dallas Times Herald newspaper, including restaurant critic, assistant business editor, food editor and lifestyle editor. He also edited several printings of the Zagat Dining Guide for Dallas-Fort Worth, and his articles and photographs have appeared in Food & Wine, Food Network and Self magazines. 

Ron Ruggless’ areas of expertise include foodservice mergers, acquisitions, operations, supply chain, research and development and marketing. 

Ron Ruggless is a frequent moderator and panelist at industry events ranging from the Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators (MUFSO) conference to RestaurantSpaces, the Council of Hospitality and Restaurant Trainers, the National Restaurant Association’s Marketing Executives Group, local restaurant associations and the Horeca Professional Expo in Madrid, Spain.

Ron Ruggless’ experience:

Regional and Senior Editor, Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality (1992 to present)

Features Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1989-1991)

Restaurant Critic and Food Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1987-1988)

Editing Roles – Dallas Times Herald (1982-1987)

Editing Roles – Charlotte (N.C.) Observer (1980-1982)

Editing Roles – Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald (1978-1980)

Email: [email protected]

Social media:

Twitter@RonRuggless

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ronruggless

Instagram: @RonRuggless

TikTok: @RonRuggless

 

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