Amazing day in downtown Brentwood

What an amazing day it's been.
Had incredible meeting with web designer. Then had lunch at Sweetpea's Cafe (formerly Maggie's) just off Church Street in the little strip mall just east of Pewitt Drive. Not only was the catfish great, we were told that business has really begun to pick back up after a slow spring.
I'm taking that as a positive sign the recession is slowing.
Next it was on to Tom Jones' State Farm insurance office where I gazed across at the new Red Mountain Bank. Who would have thought the downtrodden building at that corner could be rejuvenated and landscaped to look so wonderful? Paired with the framing going up on the Pinnacle Bank building at Franklin Road and Town Center Way and the amazing facelift to the building that now houses The Perch coffee and crepe house, we have some real-world examples of how Town Center can improve right now.
See my previous post about the new restaurant renovating the sad Church Street Pub building and you'll agree we're really on a roll here.
Did I mention Spruce, my new favorite gift and home accessories store? If you haven't stopped in, do it. After eyeing it for months, I finally went in today. Wow. No need to head to downtown Franklin and redo or any of the other stores there. Combined with existing businesses like Hot Pink, Gabriel's Garden and the other boutiques that call downtown Brentwood home, we're looking good.
Cheerleading for Brentwood? Sure. But why not. Anyone who knows me knows I don't give feint praise.
So get out this weekend and start exploring yourself. And if you're hungry, I thoroughly recommend the catfish at Sweetpea's.

Bean bringing Texas BBQ to Town Center

Here's a little scoop for all fans of Texas Barbecue:
Judge Bean's BBQ is coming to Brentwood. That's right, Aubrey Bean, who first won fans with his restaurant near the Tennessee State Fairgrounds before moving to the Gulch on 12th Avenue in downtown Nashville, has bought and is renovating the old Church Street Pub.
Popped in today to check out the work and it's coming right along.
The old pub, Brentwood Sports Grille and other incarnations that have occupied the gray-framed Town Center bar over the past few years are in the process of being ripped away. Let's hope the outside is repainted to give it a new vibe too.
More details as they become available. Everyone's so excited about Chuy's coming to Cool Springs but I think this could be big for Brentwood.