That's the first question visitors might ask when pulling up to the Station Inn. Tucked away on 12th Avenue South next to a garage, the self-proclaimed "world famous" bluegrass club hardly looks like the spot Vince Gill once frequented.Once the door flies open, though, it's easy to see why many residents and tourists enjoy the Station Inn's quiet, down-home feel, in direct contrast to the loud saloons and overcrowded nightclubs that comprise most of Nashville's entertainment scene."For what we do, we don't really have any competition," says J.T. Gray, the silver-haired, bespectacled owner of The Station Inn. "I think we appeal to the folks who like bluegrass, but also people just looking for a relaxing night out."About two dozen small, circular tables surround the inside of the Inn, with some authentic vinyl seats against the back wall. Gray says the seats were pulled from Lester Flatt's original tour bus, and one look at their tattered condition indicates he's telling the truth.The wood-paneled walls are decorated with old posters advertising concerts featuring acts like Bill Monroe and Mac Wiseman. Next to the solid-oak bar, Gray sells an assortment of bluegrass cassette tapes, CDs, hats and shirts. Clearly Gray's target audience is the die-hard bluegrass enthusiast.
402 12th Avenue, South
Nashville, Tennessee 37203