Goodlettsville, TN, a Hidden Gem Among Nashville Suburbs
Visitors, families and businesses are drawn to the high quality of life, economic advantages and charm of this small town.
Sponsored by: City of Goodlettsville ECD
Situated amid green, rolling hills just 12 miles north of downtown Nashville, the small town of Goodlettsville, TN, boasts big-city appeal.
Home to approximately 18,000 residents, Goodlettsville draws families looking to relocate to the Nashville suburbs with its excellent schools, picturesque parks and wide array of shopping and dining opportunities.
Located partly in Davidson County and partly in Sumner County, Goodlettsville has experienced significant economic growth in recent years, thanks to its attractive quality of life, business-friendly environment and convenient location near Interstates 65, 24 and 40.
Three major highways also run through Goodlettsville, carrying as many as 30,000 vehicles per day through the community. They include Long Hollow Pike, Highway 41 and Rivergate Parkway.
“Most everyone we recruit or who expresses interest in Goodlettsville comes here because of our quality of life and the accessibility to downtown Nashville. On a good traffic day, you can be there in 10 minutes,” says Goodlettsville City Manager Tim Ellis. “Our interstate connectability is a strong draw for those looking to relocate, as well as easy access to the Nashville airport.”
New Developments Bring Jobs, Apartments
Leading discount retailer Dollar General chose Goodlettsville for its headquarters in 2000, and food production giant Tyson Foods Inc. has also provided jobs in Goodlettsville for decades. The success of these and other companies has caused other businesses to take note.
Business opportunities abound in Goodlettsville, and there is no shortage of new construction around the city.
BJ’s Wholesale Club is breathing new life into the Rivergate Mall area along Rivergate Parkway. The company is constructing a new 103,000-square-foot BJ’s Wholesale Club slated to open within the next year that city leaders say will be a huge economic boost to the mall area. The Goodlettsville BJ’s is one of the company’s first three stores built in Tennessee.
Al. Neyer is also growing its footprint in Middle Tennessee by constructing a new development in the Goodlettsville area — Louisville Highway Industrial. The project includes two Class A industrial buildings that will provide warehouse space on Highway 31W. The company estimates the project will be complete in November 2023.
Also under construction is a large mixed-use housing development called Stone Bridge Lofts, which will include 311 apartments, as well as office, retail and restaurant space and a 5,600-square-foot, solar-powered clubhouse with lots of amenities. Stone Bridge Lofts is expected to be completed in summer 2024.
In June 2023, Range USA opened a new gun range and store on Cartwright Street in Goodlettsville, offering a variety of name brand handguns, rifles and ammunition for sale. Range USA is the world’s No. 1 indoor shooting range operator.
Why Families Love Living in Goodlettsville
Families praise Goodlettsville for its quality schools and well-managed parks and recreation system, for starters. A brand-new Goodlettsville Elementary School is under construction, which is one of three elementary schools in the area.
“The new Goodlettsville Elementary is about a $22 to $24 million dollar project and will be far bigger and more modern than the previous building,” Ellis says. “Our parks and rec system is second to none. We provide more acreage of parks per capita than any park system in the state of Tennessee. Our public safety, fire and police departments are also appealing — the level of services we provide exceeds most other cities.”
Even with its proximity to a major metropolitan area, Goodlettsville has managed to maintain a small-town, friendly atmosphere. Goodlettsville’s Economic Development Coordinator Alex West has lived in the area all his life and says the community is “close-knit,” whether you’ve lived there for decades or just moved there.
“Our city departments are responsive and strive to create personal relationships,” West says. “We make sure we are as available as possible for our residents and business owners.”
Tourism Growing in Goodlettsville
Tourists vacationing in Middle Tennessee and looking for things to do near Nashville have discovered that Goodlettsville serves as an attractive and affordable home base for their adventures.
There are 22 hotels in Goodlettsville, and a newly created tourism department offers tours of local attractions, including Historic Mansker’s Station and the Bowen House.
“Our antiques and arts district downtown also draws visitors in,” West says. “We have two new hotels under construction now — one is Tru by Hilton and the other is Comfort Inn & Suites. A lot of our tourists are attracted here because of our proximity to Nashville, and we encourage that because they sleep and eat here.”
Goodlettsville collects a 3% hotel/motel tax to help their community grow.
“Last year, we collected more hotel/motel taxes from visitors than we ever have in the history of our city,” Ellis says. “We promote our hometown feel for visitors to sleep, eat and shop here. They can stay here for half the price of a hotel in downtown Nashville.”