Hernando’s Hide-A-Way was briefly for sale: How Tandem Restaurant Partners stepped in to help
“For a moment Tuesday, the future of Hernando’s Hide-A-Way was uncertain. The historic nightclub appeared in a commercial real estate listing. Within hours, the listing disappeared. On Wednesday, it was announced Tandem Restaurant Partners will step in and help manage the popular spot.”
Reopened by musician Dale Watson & Celine Lee in 2019
“Tandem Restaurant Partners has saved more than one Memphis institution. ‘We want to save the nostalgia in Memphis,’ said Tony Westmoreland, one of the owners of Tandem Restaurant Partners.
He and his team have stepped in to keep such beloved Memphis spots as Zinnie’s, Robilio’s Sidecar Cafe and Carolina Watershed open.
Westmoreland said he has “a lot of cool ideas” for Hernando’s Hide-A-Way and is looking forward to having Watson as part of his restaurant group.
Watson purchased the venue – located at 3210 Old Hernando Road in Whitehaven – along with his partner, Long Island restaurateur Patrick Trovato, in 2017 for $110,000 from longtime owners the Nelson family.
The structure – originally built in 1891 – began as a dry goods store. By the early 1940s, it was operating a juke joint on the weekend. By the early 1950s, the building had become a full-fledged nightclub, known initially as The Hideaway, and later Hernando’s Hide-A-Way, after a song of that name was featured in the hit 1954 musical “The Pajama Game.”
Jennifer Chandler & Bob Mehr, Memphis Commercial Appeal
