Savage House and Jewish Standard Club

Located next door to the Frost Building sits the Savage House, a historic townhouse that dates to the late 1850s. Before the Civil War this part of the city, known as the Business District, was lined with Italianate homes like the Savage House. Built as a private residence, this building is a hidden historical gem. Today this building is a restaurant and club called The Standard at the Smith House, but it also has many ties to the Jewish religious community.

In 1881, Julian Sax, a Jewish banker from New York, purchased the townhouse to use as a personal residence. Ten years later he leased the building to a Jewish social club, which had previously existed under the name Concordia Club. Renamed the “Standard Club” in 1895, Sax built a grand ballroom for wealthy Nashvillians to enjoy drinks, cigars, and dances. He also built a bowling alley underneath the ballroom, and its ornate ceiling has been preserved. The Grand Ballroom also features the famous fireplace mantle where President Andrew Jackson was “re-married” to Rachel Donelson. In addition to the ballroom and bowling alley, the Savage House contains six bedrooms and bathrooms on three floors, two parlors, a large kitchen, outdoor courtyard, a formal dining room, a breakfast room, two trap doors, and secret rooms. We told you this was a hidden historical gem!

The Standard Club outgrew this location, moved to Franklin, and established The Old Natchez Country Club—still in operation today. In 1898 the house was purchased by the esteemed Dr. Giles Christopher Savage, a teacher of ophthalmology at both the University of Nashville and Vanderbilt. The house served as a residence and medical facility for his practice, which his daughter took over in 1930. She closed the practice in 1975, at which point the building was converted to a Bed and Breakfast. In 2005, the Savage House was purchased by the Smith family and was renovated. On the bottom floor there is an upscale restaurant open to the public. The upper floors are once again a social club—though not exclusively Jewish. According to the current owners: “The members-only club of today is reminiscent of the Standard Club 100 years ago and is again a place where a diverse group of Nashville leaders can congregate for social events, meetings, consistently good steaks, and maybe even a cigar!”

Facing the Savage House, turn LEFT and walk along Rosa L. Parks back to Commerce Street. Take a RIGHT on Commerce Street. Continue one block to Ninth Avenue and take a LEFT. Once you make a left on Ninth Avenue, continue walking until you reach Broadway. Your next stop, the Southern Methodist Publishing House, is the building to your left on the corner of Ninth and Broadway.