Tin Roof, a Nashville-based chain, is taking the space formerly occupied by Smoke BBQ on Atlantic Avenue.
Tin Roof, a Nashville-based bar and restaurant chain centered around live music, has leased the space formerly occupied by Smoke BBQ restaurant on Atlantic Avenue in downtown Delray Beach.
The move brings a major music venue to the Avenue and reinforces the growing national retail focus on this once-sleepy city.
Tin Roof is leasing the 3,500-square-foot restaurant space at 8. E. Atlantic Ave., plus the 3,000-square-foot outdoor patio next to it, the largest patio on Atlantic Avenue. Plans are to redo both spaces and open next spring or early summer.
Bob Franklin, Tin Roof’s chief executive, said he was attracted to downtown Delray’s lively scene.”There’s just a variety of businesses there and super-high quality restaurant operations. It’s a great mixed-use street and vibe,” Franklin said. When the Smoke space became available, Franklin said, he grabbed it.
This location marks Tin Roof’s second Florida location. It has a site in Orlando, as well as 14 others nationwide.
Although Tin Roof is based in Nashville, do not expect the Delray Beach location to play only country music. Tin Roof also books indie-rock bands or pop bands, Franklin said. Like all its locations, The Delray Beach Tin Roof will incorporate a range of musical genres.
That said, Franklin said two major country music acts have been launched after playing at Tin Roof locations: Luke Combs and Florida Georgia Line.
Although Tin Roof has multiple locations, each is tailored to the local music scene. In fact, Franklin said Tin Roof’s focus is to provide a venue where local bands can play. “We want to give them a stage where they can play (at night) and write during the day,” he said of local artists. “That musical dream is what they do.”
Franklin said there aren’t a lot of live music venues across the country because they are difficult to run. But keeping the offerings diverse has helped Tin Roof thrive, he said. Plans are to feature live music seven nights a week.
Tin Roof isn’t just a bar and music destination, however. Franklin said it also offers made-from-scratch, Southern-inspired food. The menu includes offerings such as its Dixie biscuits, chicken and waffles, plus burgers, sandwiches and salads. Lunch and dinner will be served.
The Tin Roof Delray Beach deal was brokered by Tom Prakas of Boca Raton-based Prakas & Co.
When Prakas began marketing the space in September, he said, he received quick interest from a number of national restaurant companies. Tin Roof was one of them. “They loved the place and definitely wanted to be here,” Prakas said.
The interest from national restaurant companies follows the move by national clothing retail stores onto Atlantic Avenue.