Tucked away in Midtown Nashville, 1865 Club is more than just a bar—it’s a carefully crafted experience that pays homage to the building’s rich history and Nashville’s local spirit. Co-owners Nick Schroer and Carla Waldron bring their entrepreneurial and design-driven backgrounds into every detail, creating a space that feels both exclusive and welcoming.
The venue, named after the year its historic tobacco building was constructed, intentionally embraces a speakeasy aesthetic. “We wanted to keep it a little bit of a hidden gem,” Schroer explains. “We love speakeasy lounges where you can come in and have a conversation.” That commitment to a true speakeasy experience is reflected in the club’s lack of signage, absence of televisions, and intimate atmosphere—a direct contrast to the high-energy bars of Broadway.
A Hybrid Membership Model
While originally considering a members-only concept, the owners opted for a more inclusive approach that still retains some exclusive perks. “We don’t want any one person to feel uncomfortable in here,” Waldron emphasizes. “This is our living room, open to the community of Nashville. We want everybody to be welcoming in our home.”
1865 Club now operates as a hybrid model, offering memberships while remaining open to the public. The annual membership fee is $750, which includes 25% off food and drinks, priority reservations, and access to exclusive events. “We wanted to create something where locals felt like they had a place that was special to them, but without shutting people out,” Schroer explains. The flexible membership plan allows payments to be made quarterly, making it accessible to a wider audience.
The Inspiration Behind the Design
Intentionality is at the core of 1865 Club’s design. Every element, from the chandeliers to the furniture and graffiti mural, has a purpose. The club sits in a building originally constructed in 1865 as a tobacco warehouse, and that history played a major role in shaping its look and feel. “The building itself inspired the design,” Waldron says. “That’s why the venue name reflects its history.”
One of the most striking design choices is the preservation of original graffiti art. The building sat vacant for 30 years, and during that time, local artists used it as a creative playground, leaving behind layers of graffiti. “We kept that artwork and brought it into the club because it was already a part of the building’s story,” Waldron adds. In a twist of fate, when they hired an artist to add new graffiti elements, they discovered that he had actually tagged the building years before.
Schroer, a carpenter by trade, personally built many of the custom pieces inside 1865 Club, including the bar shelving, coffee tables, and wooden elements throughout the space. “We didn’t just design it; we physically created the things that went into it,” he says. That hands-on approach adds an extra layer of authenticity to the venue’s aesthetic.
Craft Cocktails & Songwriters’ Haven
The bar program at 1865 Club is centered around prohibition-era cocktails, designed to complement the speakeasy atmosphere. Instead of following a standard menu, the owners encouraged their bartenders to get creative and develop unique, handcrafted cocktails. “Our bartenders are incredibly talented, so we gave them the freedom to experiment,” Schroer says. “They’ve created some amazing prohibition-inspired drinks that really fit the vibe of the space.”
Beyond cocktails, 1865 Club is becoming a hub for Nashville’s songwriters. The owners wanted to create a venue that wasn’t just about drinking but also about bringing people together and honoring the city’s musical roots. “We’re starting to become the songwriter hangout,” Waldron shares. “Songwriters come in, and then the rest of the community follows—it’s all about creating a space where different parts of Nashville can mix and feel at home.”
A Place for Locals, By Locals
Although 1865 Club is located in Midtown, word-of-mouth has led many to associate it with North Nashville due to its proximity to Fisk University and historic areas like Jefferson Street. Zintrise Lawson, a local resident of The Nations, a nearby neighborhood, recalls hearing about it before her first visit. “I kept hearing about this place before I ever came, and people were telling me it was a speakeasy near Fisk,” Lawson shares. “That just shows how much it’s resonating with different communities.”
Waldron takes pride in that organic reach. “We love the fact that we can grasp people from Midtown, as well as both West and North Nashville—all coming together in one space. That’s what makes 1865 Club special.”
With its historical charm, handcrafted design, prohibition-era drinks, and commitment to community, 1865 Club isn’t just a bar—it’s a testament to Nashville’s evolving cultural landscape. Hidden, intentional, and deeply local, it’s the kind of place that feels like a secret, but one worth sharing.
To learn more please about 1865 Club visit their website at 1865club.com or follow them at instagram.com/1865club.
