There was a time when the dining options in Williamson County were limited, but the restaurants that did operate here served as hubs of the community. These were places where waitresses knew customers by name and their orders by heart. Locals gathered to catch up on the latest gossip over a warm meal. First dates unfolded under the watchful eyes of the employees who undoubtedly knew the teens’ parents.

 

The following restaurants represent only a small selection of eateries from Williamson County’s past, but they offer a taste of the local dining scene over the decades.

THE RED GRILL 

If you lived in Franklin in the 1940s and had an occasion to celebrate, The Red Grill was the place to go. Oscar Godwin opened the restaurant in 1944 on the northeast corner of the Square where Fifth Third Bank is now located.  Each day, the cook came outside and rang a bell to draw in customers. It wasn’t long before The Red Grill became a bustling spot, serving breakfast, lunch, and supper. In the evenings, the restaurant offered an upscale dining experience with tables draped in white clothes, fine silverware, and flickering candles. The menu ranged from filet mignon to fried chicken. The upstairs was available for men’s civic club meetings, ladies’ tea parties, and birthday parties.

 

During World War II, scarce items such as cigarettes and silk stockings could be purchased at the restaurant. When the war ended on September 2, 1945, customers poured out of the building and danced in the street.

 

An unusual note in The Red Grill’s history came one morning in March 1949 when a padlock was discovered on the door. It turned out the owner, Oscar Godwin, had left town, abandoning not only the restaurant, but also a men’s clothing store and car dealership he owned in Franklin. He left behind his unpaid loans at Harpeth National Bank as well.The Red Grill changed hands and was later renamed The J. & R. Grill Restaurant. It was put up for sale in 1960.

NOBLE'S RESTAURANT

In the 20^th century, Brentwood was considered “out in the country.” Franklin Road was a gravel road, and homesteads proliferated the landscape rather than subdivisions. In 1929, Dr. Albert H. Noble purchased five acres at the quiet corner of Old Hickory Boulevard and Franklin Road. On this property, he and business partner Marion Oden opened the area’s first drug store, which featured a soda fountain and candy counter.

 

In 1948, Noble’s son Glenn converted the pharmacy into Noble’s Restaurant. For a long time, it was the only eatery in Brentwood. Noble’s passed through several owners until it closed in 1989. In 2001, the building was torn down to make way for Walgreens. However, the plot of land is still known by many as “Noble’s Corner.”

WEST POINT

Nowadays, curb service is commonplace, but once upon a time, it was quite the novelty. In Franklin, the first restaurant to offer such a convenience was West Point. Thomas West opened the eatery on August 6, 1932 in the northwest quadrant of the Public Square. Today, Franklin Fine Jewelry occupies the building.

 

West Point was billed as “the meeting place of Franklin,” and it certainly lived up to the slogan. It became a popular spot for both the young and old. The menu included a variety of items, including sandwiches, burgers, seafood, and desserts. Curbside orders were packed in brown bags, and three porters–Willie, Cat, and Smut–delivered the food to waiting customers outside.

 

When Thomas West left to serve in World War II, Clem McGlockin, Jr. ran the restaurant until West’s return. Later owners included James H. Chapman, W.J. Greer, and Norman Smith.

THE GLOBE

The corner of Columbia Pike and Downs Boulevard has always been a busy place. Nowadays, it’s home to Harpeth True Value, brimming with customers shopping for hardware and lawn care supplies. But in the not-too-distant past, this plot of land was home to another bustling business, one that long-time Franklinites remember with great fondness.

In 1940, The Globe restaurant opened on this corner. The owner, Cecil Crowson, created a menu of steaks, sandwiches, salads, and milkshakes. In its early years, The Globe was a family-friendly place, but it later became a beer joint, and the menu shifted to lighter fare. Even so, Crowson kept a back room open for family dining. At that time, pizza hadn’t yet become a popular food in America, and many folks recall eating their first slice at The Globe.

 

In 1985, a scene from At Close Range was filmed in the restaurant. Sean Penn and Christopher Walken starred in the movie. Despite its brush with Hollywood, The Globe closed its doors two years later. The stone building was demolished to make way for Harpeth Materials, which later became Harpeth True Value.

These restaurants weren’t just places to eat. They were gathering places, landmarks, and reminders of a time when eating out was about more than just the food. Though the grills have gone cold and the neon signs dimmed, the memories of these restaurants endure through grainy photographs, recipes now used in family kitchens, and the stories served up for generations to come.