Jake Owen proposes new restaurant and bar for downtown Kingston Springs

Country music star and Kingston Springs resident Jake Owen is bringing his hometown vision to life with plans for a new restaurant and bar in downtown Kingston Springs.

During the Oct. 9 Planning Commission meeting, Owen presented a concept plan for the property at 417 N. Main Street, which he purchased at the end of 2024. Working alongside local residents Courtney and Wesley Haines and architect Jason Hitchcock of Dryden Studio in Nashville, Owen outlined plans to transform the site into a community gathering place serving burgers, sandwiches, shakes, and more — complete with live music and family-friendly outdoor seating.

“[This is a] dream that I’ve had since I’ve driven past that place in all the years that I’ve lived here,” Owen told commissioners. “It’s a major responsibility to take something like that, in a town like this, and make it into something great … [Kingston Springs] is a place that I look forward to raising [my daughter] and bringing her to a community spot, and bringing back the nostalgia that I believe this community really has.”

Owen said his inspiration came from growing up in Vero Beach, Florida, where a local spot called Casey’s Place served as the go-to hangout for his family and friends.

“My twin brother and I could ride our bikes down there to the walk-up window. You could order a burger and a shake, and sit next to any community member and talk,” he said. 

Owen emphasized that the project is designed to be “more restaurant than bar,” blending Kingston Springs’ small-town charm with an elevated but approachable dining experience. Owen also teased that the restaurant will be open all day – for breakfast, lunch and dinner – and, of course, will feature live music. 

The restaurant’s proposed layout features an indoor-outdoor flow with covered patio seating, a small stage for performances and space for roughly 60 indoor seats with a total capacity of about 200 people for larger community events.

Hitchcock said the design aims to preserve as much of the existing structure as possible while adapting it for modern use.

“We pride ourselves on adaptive reuse,” Hitchcock said. “We didn’t want to come in and put lipstick on it — we wanted to honor the building and make it something special for the community.”

The Haines mentioned how important this building – which was built in 1940 – is to them and their family, and the close relationship they had with its previous owner, Gerald Hemmer, who died in 2021. 

Owen’s restaurant, which does not yet have a name, will include a shared kitchen, a separate bar area, and an outdoor walk-up counter for ordering ice cream or takeout. Local chef Hal Holden-Bache, known for his work in East Nashville’s restaurant scene, will partner on the culinary side.

Parking concerns take center stage

While commissioners praised the design and concept, several expressed concern about parking availability downtown — an issue that has affected multiple recent business proposals.

Planning Commission Chair and former Mayor Tony Gross said parking will need to be part of a larger discussion as downtown Kingston Springs continues to grow.

“Obviously, as the downtown area grows, we’re going to run into issues,” Gross said. “This [project] will be part of that conversation.”

City Planner Sharon Armstrong said parking has been one of the most common challenges for new and existing downtown businesses.

“Parking is one of the most limiting factors for development downtown,” Armstrong said. “There is the potential for a shared parking agreement, which we adopted … just for downtown, where property owners can share parking as long as they have an agreement..”

Hitchcock said the project team is already exploring solutions, including a long-term lease for a nearby vacant lot to create additional parking, including ADA-accessible spaces.

Commissioner Mike Patenaude expressed optimism that the issue can be resolved.

“I think your vision is respectful of the community,” Patenaude said. “I believe we can solve parking.”

Several commissioners said the project could play a key role in revitalizing Kingston Springs’ downtown district.

Mayor Todd Verhoven, who also serves on the Planning Commission, said he’s encouraged to see new development in the heart of town.

“Downtown has been neglected for a long time,” Verhoven said. “It's good to have more options and things that the kids can come to, the adults can come to. I'm excited for it.”

The concept plan was not up for a vote but received strong verbal support from the commission. Owen and his partners will continue refining plans and addressing site logistics before returning with a formal proposal.