Nashville COVID-19: Here are some of the businesses, attractions now open

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — The Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp has provided a list of some of the businesses and attractions that have reopened in Nashville amid the pandemic.

Although Nashville remains in Phase Two of its reopening process, NCVC president and CEO Butch Spyridon said a safe reopening of businesses is important for the economy.

“While the pandemic continues to disproportionately impact the hospitality industry, we are encouraged by industry partners who are opening restaurants and hotels and planning events that can be safely held. This type of economic activity is important for the hospitality workforce and our city’s financial recovery. We will always keep our focus on the health and safety of residents and visitors and ask them to be vigilant about wearing masks and physical distancing,” he said in a statement Thursday.

Here are some of the businesses that have reopened -- so far -- and what's expected in 2021:

Hotel openings:

• Virgin Hotel, July 2020 (262 rooms)
• Hampton Inn & Suites Downtown Capitol View, July 2020 (169 rooms)
• The Joseph Luxury Collection, September 2020 (297 rooms)
• Grand Hyatt, September 2020 (591 rooms)

Restaurants: 21 new restaurants have opened since the beginning of the pandemic (March through July), including:

• Brooklyn Bowl in Germantown (June 2020)
• Ruby Sunshine in Hillsboro Village (June 2020)
• Little Gourmand in Melrose (June 2020)
• White Limozeen Rooftop Bar at The Graduate Hotel in Midtown (July 2020)

Attractions:

• Chihuly at Cheekwood, July 18, 2020 – January 10, 2021

• National Museum of African American Music (soft opening), fall, 2020

Music and events:

• Grand Ole Opry – Saturday night radio broadcast live (without an audience)
• Academy of Country Music Awards show – September 16 on NewsChannel 5, live from Nashville
• Presidential Debate – October 22 at Belmont University
• CMA Awards, November 4
• Fan Fair at CMA Fest – 50^th anniversary in June, 2021
• Fisk Jubilee Singers – 150^th celebration kicks off Spring, 2021

Nashville airport and air lift:

Nashville International Airport's new Concourse D opened on July 16 with six domestic Southwest Airlines gates. As of now, flights are scheduled for 76 non-stop markets in August, which the NCVC says surpasses the number of non-stop markets serviced at BNA before the pandemic.

• Southwest: At its lowest point, Southwest had 42 flights daily at BNA, and now they are up to 100 daily flights. By the end of the pandemic, they plan to have more than before.
• British Airways: The NCVC says they’re in “early communications” with British Airways, and the airline has indicated they plan to bring back the Nashville flight. The date is TBD due to travel bans and quarantines.

According to the NCVC, 11% of all groups that canceled events have postponed or rebooked for future dates – that’s 124 out of 1,169 groups. They say several more are working through the process of finding new dates and getting rebooked.

Of the larger conventions, 11 of 16 have either already rebooked or looking to rebook a future year. The NCVC says some groups have expressed interest in moving to 2021.

The NCVC says 700 businesses have joined the city's "Good to Go" program, which provides resources for businesses to train their staff to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Click here for more information.