Nashville’s popular The Basement East is getting closer to reopening, after being destroyed during the devastating March tornadoes. The popular music venue, which appropriately only had the “I Believe in Nashville” mural left standing in the storm’s aftermath, could be open by early September.
“When it’s March 3 and somebody tells you they’re going to have this building back up to speed by the end of August, that is the most cautious optimism I’ve ever felt,” MIke Grimes, co-owner of The Basement East told WKRN.
Mike still vividly recalls the moment he and fellow co-owner, Dave Brown, saw how badly the beloved Nashville bar had been damaged, which occurred shortly after several musicians gathered at The Basement East to show their support for then-Presidential candidate, Bernie Sanders.
“The tornado hit at approximately 1:15 a.m., the Bernie benefit was over, and our conscientious staff of five ran down to the basement with seconds to spare before the roof blew off,” Mike previously recalled to Rolling Stone. “All are safe. We are so fortunate. The venue is pretty much a total loss.”
Mike never imagined how much not only just The Basement East, but so many other places in East Nashville would suffer damage.
“We had to take a pause and kind of absorb what was all around us because it wasn’t just us, it was everybody else and it was a tragedy,” Mike reflected.
The wall that holds “I Believe in Nashville” became a symbol of hope for people all over Nashville who were overwhelmed by the damage the tornadoes caused.
“It was the perfect combination of this amazing mural located next to this amazing absence,” Mike said, adding, “We’re very humbled to have become the symbol and the visual connection to the devastation and the destruction.”
Although COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on music venues, Mike said it did allow them more time to work on repairs. The official opening of The Basement East is also pending COVID-19 restrictions. The Basement East is located at 917 Woodland Street in Nashville. Updates will be posted at The Basement East’s website and their Facebook page.
