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Shopping and Dining in Williamson County, TN

Discover dozens of must-try restaurants, unique retail centers and boutiques

By Jessica Walker Boehm on May 21, 2018

Franklin, TN
Franklin / Courtesy of Sheridan PR

No matter your palate and preferences, it’s easy to eat and shop your way through Williamson County. That’s because the community has a diverse, broad range of dining spots and retailers that are constantly expanding and evolving, so the scene stays fresh – there’s always a new dish to try or a cool shop to explore.

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Dining Destinations

Bring your appetite to Brentwood, where you’ll find restaurants like Del Frisco’s Grille, Nama Sushi, Holler & Dash, Uncle Julio’s and Puffy Muffin, along with specialty food store The Fresh Market at Hill Center Brentwood, a recently updated 17-acre mixed-use community that’s been a local favorite for more than 30 years.

Brentwood also lays claim to the 33-acre CityPark, which opened in 2015 and features dining spots such as Newk’s Eatery, Taziki’s Mediterranean Cafe, Suki Japanese, Blaze Pizza, BurgerFi and Just Love Coffee & Eatery. In addition, Brentwood’s Maryland Farms neighborhood is home to Mere Bulles, a longtime staple in Williamson County that serves southern-inspired dishes in the historic Maryland Manor.

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The Cool Springs area offers plenty of dining, too, with restaurants like Connors Steak & Seafood, Drake’s Cool Springs, Brown Bag, Cajun Steamer Bar & Grill, The Honeysuckle, Schakolad Chocolate Factory and Las Brisas, an authentic Mexican restaurant that opened in 2017.

In nearby downtown Franklin, there’s Merridee’s Breadbasket, a bakery and restaurant where everything is made from scratch, as well as Gray’s on Main and the newly opened O’ Be Joyful – both located on Main Street and owned and operated by longtime Williamson County residents Joni and Michael Cole.

“I can’t think of a better place to live and operate a business than Williamson County,†Joni Cole says. “As business owners, Michael and I have been extremely successful here, and we’ve received incredible support from residents and local organizations like Williamson Inc. That’s a big reason Michael and I have continued to put our passion, time and energy into our businesses – we know the community is behind us.â€

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Franklin also includes The Factory at Franklin that recently welcomed authentic New York pizza restaurant MAFIAoZA’S, and the city has several restaurants owned by Franklin-based A. Marshall Family Foods Inc., including Puckett’s Grocery & Restaurant, Puckett’s Boat House and Scout’s Pub.

“Williamson County is a special place to do business because there is a strong sense of community, both with residents and businesses,†says Andy Marshall, Franklin native and proprietor at A. Marshall Family Foods Inc., which also includes Harvest at Homestead Manor in Thompson’s Station. “Being plugged into the community has helped our business grow by the support of other businesses choosing us for both dining and catering. We all love to ‘keep it local’ here, and that is evident in the dining scene with independent restaurants flourishing throughout the community.â€

Shops & Retail Centers 

Along with being a top dining destination, Hill Center Brentwood has a variety of retailers like The Cosmetic Market, Francesca’s, Pear Tree Avenue, REI and Sur La Table. CityPark is also a favorite shopping spot as it’s home to Maxi B. Home, American Jewelry and Copper Penny, an upscale women’s boutique.

In Franklin, there’s CoolSprings Galleria, an enclosed regional shopping mall, as well as several unique shops nearby such as Big Frog Custom T-Shirts & More of Franklin, downtown Franklin’s Gin-O Boutique and The Factory at Franklin’s Made in TN.

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To the east of Franklin in Nolensville is Nesting Project, a life event design company and print shop that enables customers to fully customize clothing, bedding, decorations, stationary and other items. Nesting Project is owned by Kelly Williamson and Corinne Morse, both of whom are Williamson County residents, and Williamson says they’ve found the community a great place to grow a business due to the abundance of local support.

“People who live in Williamson County appreciate entrepreneurs, love shopping local and appreciate anything in the creative realm,†Williamson says. “Nolensville is not too far from the booming economy of Nashville and very close to Franklin and Brentwood, so it’s easy for people to visit our storefront, swing next door and get some great food, then take a walk through some local antique stores in the Nolensville Historic District.â€

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