Woolworth on Fifth

In February 1960, a group of black students from Fisk University, Tennessee A&I (now Tennessee State University), and American Baptist College boldly sat down at the lunch counters of Woolworth's, Kress, and McClellan—all department stores. This is how Nashville’s sit-in movement began. Implementing methods of non-violent protest, young Civil Rights leaders such as John Lewis, James Lawson, and Diane Nash began a historic journey to end racial segregation. In the face of violence, intimidation, and arrest—the determined spirit and perseverance of these and other students led Mayor Ben West to support desegregation. He did so, and the Nashville business community followed by integrating lunch counters, stores, and restaurants. By the summer of 1960, Nashville had desegregated all public facilities—the first southern city to do so.

After a major renovation, the Woolworth building reopened as a restaurant in early 2018. The venue hosts a "welcome table for all," showcasing the Civil Rights movement in Nashville through historic photographs and visibly patched floors where the segregated lunch counters were removed. Visitors can enjoy live jazz, R&B, early rock, and more while dining.

Woolworth's reflects the power of food to connect the past to the present and to provide a window into the complicated nature of southern culture and identity. You can likely think of popular foods associated with the American southeast: barbecue, fried chicken, or biscuits. These dishes represent points of contact between Native Americans, African Americans, and European Americans. These popular dishes reveal stories about women and men, many enslaved, who cooked for others and adapted foods during times of plenty and times of need. As you explore Woolworth on 5th, consider how its “welcome table for all” unites not only those who challenged Jim Crow with the present, but also celebrates the different races, classes, and cultures who made the cuisine we know and love today.

Continue walking down Fifth Avenue. As you walk, you will pass a Tennessee Historical Commission marker for Sarah Estell on your right. An influential free woman of color, Estell ran a well-known and respected ice cream shop. She later ran a boarding house at the same location. Shortly after you pass the marker, you will arrive at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and Church Street. The building on your right, currently housing Puckett’s Grocery and Restaurant, is our next stop.