New event venue burns in Nashville

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - Nashville Fire crews were called to a commercial fire in North Nashville early Monday morning.

According to personnel at the scene, the fire started outside of Flash Me Xperience on Jefferson Street, a new party and event venue next to Mary’s Old-Fashioned Bar-B-Que. Early indications show debris behind the building caught fire and spread to the inside back rooms.

Fire crews managed to contain the fire before it spread to the restaurant next door, but the rear of “Flash Me” was heavily damaged.

“The fire department said that they believe it was set on the outside,” said Nicole Nunn, owner of Flash Me Xperience. “They were thankful no one was in there as well. They said at this time that’s all they know. They informed me that ... all of my exhibits that were in the back portion of my building are gone and the entire building is filled with smoke damage.”

Nunn opened Flash Me Xperience in February 2021 after being laid off from her corporate job during the pandemic. It is a 2,000 square-foot space for local creatives. Nunn said her back patio caught fire and spread inside. Elite Roofing is next door. Cars there are melted; electricity is out; and the inside has smoke damage.

“What is bad, the same thing happened before in the building right behind us,” Elite Roofing company president D’Arcy Porter said. “They had to tear up everything in my building again.”

It is the second time in less than three months a business here caught fire. Back in August, the Nashville Fire Department said the back patio of TEN45 was set on fire and also spread inside in an act of arson. Fire officials have not determined if Monday’s fire is arson and said there are currently no indicators the two fires are connected.

Nunn said she is going to keep moving one foot in front of the other.

“The darkness over the color. There is still something beautiful underneath it,” Nunn said. “It is definitely a temporary situation.”

NFD said the fire Monday morning and one in August both remain under investigation. Nunn knows the rebuilding process will be a long one but is grateful nobody was hurt.

“It’s very unfortunate to see the hard work, but I’m just thankful that everyone is okay, and I know that this is something God will take me through, so I’m just looking forward to the other side,” Nunn said.

The investigation into the exact cause of the fire continues. A GoFundMe has been started to help rebuild.

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