Nashville-based neighborhood pub M.L.Rose has found a new home in Franklin. Williamson, Inc. helped commemorate the highly anticipated opening on Tuesday with a ribbon cutting ceremony.
“This is by far the best reception we’ve gotten from any neighborhood in Tennessee,” said General Manager Alex Cottingham.
Founded in 2008 by Austin Ray, M.L.Rose has become a beloved no-frills local watering-hole and gathering spot for communities in and around Nashville. As the city has grown, so has M.L.Rose.
Ray said his team has been planning the expansion into Franklin since 2021. This ribbon cutting has kickstarted a big year for the restaurant — two more locations in Gallatin and Inglewood are set to open over the next several months.
“We see all three of these as great opportunities because we see the specific locations and the specific parts of town as places that have grown tremendously from a residential development standpoint and the restaurant services have not quite kept up,” Ray said.
His goal with every restaurant is to support and become a part of each community by creating a space for neighbors to gather.
“Being excellent at serving beer, and burgers and everything we have to offer here at M.L.Rose is just the baseline,” Ray said. “We are in the business of engaging with people and we’re in the business of engaging with our community. It’s a really beautiful thing and we think it’s really important for people to be able to come together.”
But M.L.Rose is going beyond just providing a space for community — Ray and his team are actively giving back through charitable partnerships with local organizations. At the ribbon cutting, Ray presented a check for $2,500 of money made in the first few days of the Franklin location’s life to GraceWorks, a local nonprofit thrift store, food pantry and financial assistance organization.
“We love to be involved in our communities wherever we go,” Ray said. “We know that there are times in life when people need a hand up and we are so proud to be at the beginning of a relationship with GraceWorks and to offer them a donation today.”
The Franklin restaurant has only been open a few days, but it already feels like a neighborhood favorite. Locals now have a new spot to grab a bite or a beer, gather with friends or family, or watch the upcoming Vols and Titans seasons.
Find more information about M.L.Rose at mlrose.com/location/franklin/
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