Meet Will Shuff | Restaurant owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Will Shuff and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Will, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
Both 12 South Taproom and 51 North Taproom are involved in our community with various endeavors throughout the year. We donate time and resources with the local charity, Dream Streets, by providing a monthly meal to 30 students in their program that serves underprivileged youth in West and North Nashville neighborhoods. We also participate in their annual fundraiser, Taste of West Nashville. We also sponsor a deserving family each holiday season from Old Cockerill Elementary to provide toys and necessities. This October we are donating a portion of proceeds from a cocktail of the month to Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. These are a few examples of how we try to give back to our community and stay involved with some charities with which we have a connection. The ability to give back was an aspect of business that was unrealized before I started my own business and it has brought me great joy.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I am the owner of 12 South Taproom & Grill and 51 North Taproom located in Nashville, TN. We are neighborhood bars that focus on providing a fabulous experience in a fun and casual atmosphere while serving up craft beer, cocktails and scratchmade food. We love that we have something for everyone on our menu and our awesome team is committed to making everyone feel like a regular. Hard work and dedication have gotten me where I am today after 17 years in business. Running my own business is not easy but I have been blessed with a fantastic team of long term employees as well as my business partner, Jamy Borda, that take pride in their work and the well being of the Taproom brand. Creating a positive workspace expands into the feeling of welcomeness our customers enjoy when they walk in the door as well as the product that we put on the tables. It is a group effort to provide the positive dining experience we strive to give each of our customers. I feel that happy and understanding work environment is vital to success in any business but especially holds true in the hospitality industry.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Nashville and its surrounding areas have so much to offer. There are so many wonderful places to visit. I am big into the outdoors so I would start with some hikes. Radnor Lake is a beautiful nature preserve in the city limits that offers unbelievable beauty. I also highly recommend the Warner Parks. If you want to take a drive, the Natchez Trace Parkway will get you out into Nashville’s surrounding countryside with many scenic overlooks, walks and access to some great Tennessee small towns such as Leiper’s Fork. The Cumberland Plateau has a bounty of hikes, waterfalls and scenic drives within a couple hours of Nashville. Tooling around town, there are plenty of sights to take in on your stay. Centennial Park has a replica of the Parthenon which also doubles as an art gallery. The First Art Museum is a wonderful art gallery housed in the old downtown post office which is a great place to spend an afternoon. Soak up country music history at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.
While I would definitely recommend eating at both 12 South Taproom and 51 North Taproom, Nashville ha an ever expanding dining scene. A few of my favorite restaurants are Rolf and Daughters, Punk Wok, 5 Guys Burgers, Answer, Smith & Lentz Brewery, Sonobana, and Smiling Elephant.
A trip to Nashville wouldn’t be complete without a visit to historic Lower Broadway. Robert’s Western World and Layla’s are my favorite honkeytonks to hit after the Nashville Predators, Tennessee Titans or a show at the Ryman Auditorium.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would have to give a shout out to my parents for their unwavering support throughout the years. I could not have achieved all that I have without their love and encouragement. They have been there for me in good times and in bad. Fortunately there have been plenty of good times.

Website: www.12southtaproom.com. www.51northtaproom.com

Instagram: @12southtaproom @51northtaproom

Twitter: @12southtaproom @51northtaproom