Williamson County Entrepreneurs Enjoy Sizzling Success

The Thompsons Kitchen

Small-business owners throughout Williamson County are enjoying the sweet smell of success. Whether delivering Southern fare with a global twist, reviving a historic downtown post office or whipping up delicious, fluffy pancakes, these thriving Williamson County entrepreneurs have invested heavily in the county, and, in return, they’ve seen residents invest in them. 

Fab Fare in Fairview 

With the slogan “Southern Roots, Global Flavor,” The Thompsons Kitchen is a comfortable restaurant in Fairview that serves Williamson County customers, plus it features a full-service catering component for private gatherings throughout Nashville. Lunch is served Fridays and Saturdays, while dinner is every Tuesday through Saturday. About half of the main menu features regular offerings, while the other half changes seasonally. 

Husband-and-wife team Rodney and Gemma Thompson arrived in Fairview in 2021 after a decade of serving the Nashville region as Two Thompsons Catering. They opened The Thompsons Kitchen as a country-casual dining room. 

“We actually had a food truck and then had the opportunity to occupy a brick-and-mortar building in Fairview, and we’re glad we did,” Gemma says. 

Gemma runs the day-to-day operations, while Rodney is a top-rated chef. “Rodney gets especially happy when the seasons change, and he can introduce interesting seasonal entrees,” Gemma says. “For example, he added a pecan-encrusted trout dish with stuffed roasted butternut squash to our fall 2024 lineup. It was a major hit.” 

The Thompsons Kitchen gets much of its fresh produce from a nearby farm in Leiper’s Fork, and the restaurant stages live jazz acts every Saturday night from 7:30 to 9:30. Also available is a full bar with beer, wine and liquor, and the bartenders have concocted several original handcrafted cocktails. 

Courtesy of Matt Brown

Heart of Service in Franklin

Matt and Julie Brown credit a server at Puckett’s for their move to Franklin in 2020. On a cross-country road trip searching for the perfect place to call home, a server told them Franklin would be exactly what they were looking for. 

Just 21 days later, they moved, sight unseen. It was a good choice. Their branding and marketing agency, BrandMETTLE, is thriving, and they’ve opened METTLurgy, a startup incubator – both are in downtown Franklin. Perhaps most importantly, these Williamson County entrepreneurs have taken ownership of the historic Five Points Post Office. 

“The Post Office is a big deal to the community. Much of the downtown area relied on it. There were generations of families who had post office boxes there. It even has its own unique ZIP code,” Matt Brown says. “It became a contract postal unit in the 1990s when the post office in Royal Oaks opened, but it is difficult for people to get to, and the waits are always long. We wanted the Five Points Post Office to be an option. We really felt like it needed to be saved.” 

The Browns continue to plant roots, partnering with Williamson, Inc. and even dipping a toe into local politics. 

“We fell in love with Franklin and decided to get involved. We had the best welcome that introduced us to what makes Franklin so special – it put the heart of service for Franklin into our family,” Brown says. “We decided we wanted to not take from Franklin but make it a priority to give back.” 

Orders Up at the Galleria

Successful entrepreneur Chip Bradley has owned a popular Nashville breakfast spot called Pancake Pantry since 2018. In fact, it’s so popular that customers are often lined up out the door on weekends just waiting for a chance to chow down on some delicious food. 

Recently, Bradley ventured into Franklin, opening Stacked Express in the Cool Springs Galleria mall food court. 

“Even though the Galleria doesn’t actually open until 10 a.m., Stacked Express opens at 7:30 a.m. every morning,” Bradley says. “Customers simply enter the Galleria property through Entrance 4, then they can order a stack of pancakes at our restaurant to eat on-site or to take home or their office.” 

Bradley is a longtime resident and says he likes the restaurant’s location because the mall welcomes about 12 million visitors a year. 

“I categorize Stacked Express as a quick service restaurant, kind of like how Chick-fil-A or Chipotle do business,” he says. “Along with pancakes, we also have lunch items like smash burgers, BLTs and club sandwiches until 7 p.m. But it’s having fresh-made pancakes available in a food court at 7:30 a.m. that makes us different.” 

– Kevin Litwin contributed to this article.