For long-time Nashville residents, the mention of Broadway once conjured images of bustling car dealerships lining the streets. However, as Nashville has blossomed into a major urban center, the landscape of Broadway has dramatically shifted, making way for a surge of hotels, trendy restaurants, and vibrant bars. This transformation has prompted significant changes for businesses deeply rooted in Broadway’s history, including Beaman Toyota.
After decades of serving the Nashville community from its Broadway location, Beaman Toyota has moved to a newer, more expansive facility in South Nashville. Michael Sadler, Senior Sales Manager at Beaman Toyota, expressed enthusiasm about the relocation, stating, “It feels great. I mean, look at this place. It’s a really nice facility and the salespeople are adapted to what we’re doing here, and they really love it. I mean, it’s probably the nicest car dealership in the state of Tennessee.” The new location at Harding Place offers increased space and improved amenities to better serve their growing customer base.
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Alt text: Senior Sales Manager Michael Sadler discussing Beaman Toyota’s move from Broadway Nashville to a larger facility, emphasizing customer benefits.
Sadler highlighted the strategic foresight behind the move, acknowledging Nashville’s rapid growth and the evolving nature of Broadway. “As the city continued to grow, and I’m sure not even tip the scales and where it’s going to grow, I knew at some point it would be a better deal for us to move out of that location because of just the change.” The increasing value of real estate on Broadway, driven by its transformation into an entertainment and hospitality hub, made relocating a practical decision for Beaman Automotive.
The departure from Broadway marks the end of an era for Beaman Automotive, a company that has been a fixture on Broadway for many decades. To manage the transition, Beaman employees undertook a unique logistical operation, driving their extensive inventory of Toyota vehicles from the old Broadway lot to their new home nine miles away in South Nashville. “It was a convoy up and down 24 for about five maybe six hours,” Sadler recounted, illustrating the scale of the move and their commitment to ensuring a smooth transition.
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Alt text: Broadway Nashville street view illustrating urban development replacing traditional car dealerships like Beaman Toyota Broadway, reflecting Nashville’s growth.
The prime Broadway property, formerly home to Beaman Toyota Broadway, was acquired by Brentwood-based GBT Realty for a substantial $110 million, as reported on their website. This significant investment signals further redevelopment of the area, potentially including multiple new buildings at the site. The sale underscores the immense value of Broadway real estate and the ongoing transformation of the district.
Reflecting on the historical context, Sadler, who is celebrating his 20th year with Beaman, recalled a time when Broadway was the epicenter for car shopping in Nashville. “As a matter of fact, across the street with a Whole Foods and condos are that was hippodrome Nissan at one time. It was a Nissan dealership. Across the street was a Chevrolet dealership and of course Beaman and Mitsubishi. It was a lot of different dealerships downtown, which is completely changed.” Broadway’s automotive row has gradually disappeared, replaced by businesses catering to Nashville’s booming tourism and residential sectors.
Further down Broadway, similar shifts are occurring. Houston-based development company Hines is planning a major redevelopment of the properties currently housing Subaru and Hyundai dealerships, continuing the trend of transforming Broadway from a car dealership hub to a mixed-use urban corridor. Even Beaman Buick GMC, while still currently located downtown, is also preparing to move south to Bell Road, indicating a broader pattern of automotive businesses relocating from the increasingly valuable Broadway area. The relocation of Beaman Toyota Broadway signifies a pivotal moment in the ongoing evolution of Nashville’s iconic Broadway, reflecting the city’s dynamic growth and changing economic landscape.
