In 2019, GNN highlighted the launch of a groundbreaking initiative by country star Brad Paisley: a free grocery store designed to provide Nashville residents facing food insecurity with the opportunity to shop with dignity and access a variety of goods.
Five years later, after navigating numerous unforeseen challenges, Paisley is preparing to expand this vision by opening a new location in North Nashville.
“We're planning to open another location as soon as everything is in place,” Paisley shared with guests at last month's CEO Roundtable awards, as reported by the Nashville Business Journal.
“This is about offering groceries with dignity,” Paisley explained. “We’ve all witnessed situations where people are forced to accept a handout from the back of a truck. We wanted to create something entirely different, removing the stigma and preserving the dignity of those in need, especially in front of their children.”
The Store by Brad Paisley first opened its doors on March 12, 2020, only to confront immediate and extraordinary obstacles. Just ten days before the grand opening, Nashville was struck by a devastating tornado outbreak, leaving over 70,000 residents without power and marking it as the sixth most costly tornado in U.S. history. Despite the chaos, The Store, operating at a reduced capacity, quickly mobilized to support those impacted.
Shortly after the tornado, the COVID-19 pandemic led to a nationwide shutdown, including a shelter-in-place order in Tennessee. This forced The Store to rapidly adapt its original model. Paisley, along with his wife Kimberly and their team, developed a pandemic response overnight, offering curbside pickup and home delivery services, particularly focusing on the elderly. They continued this approach for the next 17 months.
In the face of these challenges, The Store remained true to Brad and Kim’s commitment to instilling a sense of service in their children. “We’ve got to involve them in service, get them out of their bubble, and help them understand that there are people who are hungry in the world,” Kimberly Williams-Paisley shared on The Store’s website.
Over time, The Store expanded its offerings to include comprehensive wrap-around services such as counseling, budgeting assistance, cooking classes, and even literacy programs, pet care, back-to-school support, and music therapy.
In November 2023, The Store added a toy store just in time to support the Christmas needs of the 400 families it regularly serves. “Being able to give your child something they truly wanted, rather than just something to get through the holidays, is a huge relief for parents who might not have thought they could do that,” Paisley said.