NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — A new space is taking shape in Antioch, promising to bring together culture, community, and commerce.

By September, the first phase of Nashville's Chinatown is set to open.

Tennessee is one of the fastest-growing states in the South for Asian and Pacific Islander populations, with more than 180,000 calling Tennessee home, according to API Middle Tennessee.

However, with that growth, some residents told News 2 that there is still a need for a central point of culture.

Nashville's Chinatown project is bringing that vision closer to reality.

"I've been saying that Nashville has needed a Chinatown for years," executive director of API Middle Tennessee, Joseph Gutierrez, said.

In the heart of Antioch, just off of Hickory Hollow Parkway, Nashville's first Chinatown is making progress.

"It's not really downtown like your traditional Chinatown concept, but in that area, it is very multicultural, and it is going to bring a lot of business to Antioch," Michelle Kang, the former President of the Greater Nashville Chinese Association, explained.

At the center of the development is Pan-Asia Supermarket, which will be the largest Asian grocery store in Nashville, offering over 10,000 Asian products.

"I always get questions about 'Where you get good Asian food?; 'Where do you buy your groceries?' And stuff like that, so now I will have a really simple answer," Gutierrez said.

"It would be neat, especially for the second generation, like they didn't grow up with what we experienced, so they get to experience the culture," Kang said.

For many in the community, the new space fills a much-needed gap.

"[Nashville], as far as Asian culture-wise, it is a huge difference," Kang said. "There used to be just one tiny little grocery store and farmers market, but now there are multiple grocery stores."

The project launched in May 2024 under the name 'Tennessee Nashville Chinatown' with plans to fully open by 2027.

A variety of dining options, ranging from Chinese rice noodles to Korean fried chicken and Vietnamese pho, will also be included at the new space.

"There is no one neighborhood that has a lot of Asian and Pacific Islander community members living in it, so our community is so sparse," Gutierrez explained. "It is very difficult to find connections in that kind of way. So I think that is one of the key things, and then the other kind of piece, too, is that I really kind of think that there isn't a center for community hubs. I am really excited for the Chinatown development because the later stages of its development will include an event center."

But beyond business, the development is about building a sense of belonging.

"There aren't many places to connect, and once we have them, it is really important that people can come together and just feel welcomed and safe," Gutierrez expressed.

The additional buildings for phases two and three are expected to be completed by 2027.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/nashville/construction-progresses-on-antiochs-chinatown-development/