Find Out Why Rutherford County Businesses Thrive Here

Great resources and a vibrant economy help fuel success for entrepreneurs in Middle Tennessee.

By Charlie Moss on July 7, 2023

Jeff Adkins

For a community of small-business owners, Rutherford County was the right place to settle down and perfect their craft – whether that meant bringing their family recipes back to life for more people to enjoy or creating a gathering place centered around coffee. Explore why Rutherford County businesses enjoy success in Middle Tennessee.

A Slice of Heritage

Inspired by family recipes, sisters Kyah Richards and Jodi Gnoffo opened Sorelles Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria in Eagleville in 2022.

Born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and living in South Florida since high school, Gnoffo was the first to relocate to Eagleville six years ago after visiting nearby Nashville and falling in love with the Middle Tennessee region.

Gnoffo saw an opportunity for authentic Italian food in the area and an idea was born. “I had been begging my sister to come up here for years,” she says. “I finally got my wish about a year ago.”

While Gnoffo has the culinary background, Richards excelled on the business side. “When we found the building in Eagleville, it had already been a restaurant and it was the ideal location,” Richards says. “Everything just came together perfectly.”

Jeff Adkins

Where There’s A Will

Gnoffo’s favorite part about owning the restaurant, where New York-style pizza is the specialty, is when she gets the chance to walk around the dining room and speak to the patrons.

“When they tell me they have been searching for good Italian food or pizza and that they have found it here? It’s just this incredible feeling,” she says.

“I love when I look around at a full dining room and realize that Jodi and I did this,” Richards says. “We brought something we love so much to others who now love it just as much as we do. The dining room fills with this laughter and chatter, and it’s just a happy, grateful feeling that I get.”

Both sisters also love working together every day, which is just an added incentive. They attribute a large part of their success to the Eagleville community, having used local businesses to purchase and create a majority of the restaurant’s interior design.

Richards and Gnoffo’s mother always told them, “When there’s a will, there’s a way.” In fact, they have matching tattoos that symbolize that advice.

They agree that Rutherford County businesses are thriving and and enjoy ample opportunities. Their hope is that they can be an example for young women who have big ideas. “If you have an amazing idea or concept, make it happen,” Gnoffo says.

Jeff Adkins

Cultural Melting Pot

Daniela Reina owns and operates Bella Vista Coffee Shop in Smyrna, a local café that offers fair-trade coffee and fresh, made-from-scratch local products. The menu features items such as empanadas, paninis, tacos and bagels.

With South American roots, Reina decided to open her business here as a way to share her family’s rich culture and mouthwatering flavors with the Rutherford County community.

“I think Rutherford County is an incredible melting pot, culturally,” Reina says. “And that is something that adds a magical feeling to this place.”

Her advice to anyone interested in opening their own business in the area is to get to know the community first. “There are truly amazing people in Rutherford County,” she says.

Resources for Rutherford County Businesses

Rutherford County and Tennessee offer several resources for people who dream of starting their own business but aren’t sure where to start.

For example, the Small Business Development Center at Middle Tennessee State University offers free consulting, seminars and business information for area entrepreneurs, while the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce provides a wealth of information about programs and initiatives for operating a young business and regular networking opportunities with other Rutherford County businesses.

LaunchTN has a vision of making Tennessee the most startup-friendly state in America, offering several accessible resources to entrepreneurs.

Also available to startups in Rutherford County is SCORE, which is made up of successful businesspeople who mentor entrepreneurs so that fledgling businesses can start, grow or transition.

For military veterans in Rutherford County, the Veterans Business Outreach Center program provides business training, counseling, grant writing and other services to veterans looking to start or grow a small business.

Another Great Resource: Coworking Spaces

Whether you are a remote worker or someone who needs collaborative space from time to time, Rutherford County has you covered. Coworking spaces that offer comfortable meeting areas, high-speed connectivity and networking opportunities are a staple for Rutherford County businesses.

Located two blocks from Public Square in Murfreesboro is Cultivate Coworking, a shared office coworking space with conference rooms, individual desks and private offices. Services are available for a monthly fee based on usage, and there are no contracts or leases.

Studio at Fountains is located in the Fountains at Gateway office and retail development in Murfreesboro, and it features solo offices as well as suites for up to 20 team members. Another coworking option is Regus at The Avenue, located within The Avenue Murfreesboro business center, where amenities include window offices, interior offices, office suites and a large coworking space.

Called Together Coworking is also in Murfreesboro and equipped with a coworking area, short-term office rentals, event space, conference rooms, training rooms, notary services and live receptionist service. In addition, three-person team offices and four-person team offices are available.

Jill Thornhill

Spotlight: Classy Cactus Farm

Mother-son duo Jill and Hayden Thornhill own Classy Cactus Farm in Murfreesboro, whose roots date to when preteen Hayden was looking for a way to make money beyond a lemonade stand. Livability chatted with the Thornhills about the benefits Rutherford County businesses enjoy here.

What does Classy Cactus Farm specialize in?
Jill: We specialize in easy-to-ship succulent and cactus gift boxes. We also do succulent workshops, and then we have a custom-built greenhouse, where we can also host private parties.

How did you get started?
Hayden: In the summer of 2020, I wanted to open a lemonade stand, but then due to COVID-19, we couldn’t. So, we came across this article, and it was saying how succulents and cacti were some of the easiest plants to ship out. We were like, “Hey, maybe we should do this instead.”

Jill: I was a staffing manager for a local staffing company, and then I would come home and pack boxes until 11 p.m. or midnight. Once we realized this was a viable business option, I decided to leave the corporate world.

What advice do you have for others who want to start their own business?
Jill: I think with any successful business, it’s not one thing you do, it’s multiple things. Succulent bars or workshops might not be someone’s favorite thing, but there are people out there you need to send a birthday or get-well card to. How about a box of succulents? We’re just trying to find different ways we can have something for everyone.