About
Backstory
The land of Centennial Park has been evolving since before it was even a park. In recent years, Centennial Park Conservancy has steered community resources toward helping revitalize the Park across a number of phases – including popular areas like the Great Lawn, Musicians Corner, and Cockrill Spring.
While planning the north side revitalization phase in 2022, Metro Parks’ Tim Netsch looked over a historic, but underutilized former Croquet Clubhouse in the revitalized area’s footprint that was being used for storage. Surely this historic building had a higher purpose. Netsch signaled the space’s hidden potential to Centennial Park Conservancy’s President John Tumminello, and floated the idea of a cafe. Coincidentally, this concept was in line with the Conservancy’s recent strategic plan that identified two glaring park needs: concessions, and a source of sustainable revenue to support the park’s growing financial needs.
The Conservancy team – spearheaded by VP of Development Justin Tam – diligently worked to raise the $1 million needed to repurpose the space. This philanthropic appeal was graciously answered by the project’s lead funder The Frist Foundation, alongside generous gifts from The Dettwiller Foundation, Joe C. Davis Foundation, Hays Foundation, and the Tennessee Historical Commission. Simultaneously, the Conservancy received Metro Parks Board approval for its $1 million grant to repurpose and operate the cafe, thus ensuring its proceeds benefit the park.
Financial resources in hand, Metro Parks and Centennial Park Conservancy worked with R.C. Mathews Contractor, Dryden Studio, and Hodgson Douglas Landscape Architects to make the dream of the Cafe (and concurrent Event Pavilion project) into a reality.
In order to make the Cafe an operational success, the Conservancy sought best practice counsel from an array of local restaurant, hospitality, and retail leaders including Slim & Husky’s, Hermitage Hotel, Frothy Monkey, Bluebird Cafe, and Thistle Farms. This ultimately led them to The Grilled Cheeserie founders, Joseph Bogan and Crystal Luna-Bogan who served as strategic consultants for the Cafe’s pre-opening and menu development stages.
Now, Croquet Cafe stands as a thoughtful adaptive reuse of a historic 1963 structure within Centennial Park that nourishes park visitors and introduces a much-needed amenity to our city’s central park.
The Team
Culinary & Advisory Team
Centennial Park Conservancy partnered with Nashville-based husband-and-wife duo Joseph Bogan and Crystal De Luna-Bogan, a Le Cordon Bleu–trained chef. They are the founders of the beloved The Grilled Cheeserie concept which started with a signature food truck and expanded into brick-and-mortar locations around Middle Tennessee, including the Cafe Cheeserie at the Frist Art Museum. At their core, the duo enjoys reimagining familiar comfort food through a thoughtful, chef-driven approach to ingredients, technique, and presentation.
They have earned national attention with appearances on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives and Guy’s Grocery Games, as well as the Cooking Channel’s Eat St. Their accolades include being named Best Food Truck by Nashville Scene for 10 consecutive years, being ranked No. 3 on Mobile-Cuisine’s Top 10 Most Influential Food Trucks and No. 7 on The Daily Meal’s 101 Best Food Trucks in America in 2015. In 2016, the business was also recognized with the Chairman’s Award for Small Businesses from the Nashville Business Incubation Center.
Joseph and Crystal served as strategic advisors on the Cafe's concept and menu development and are planning to partner with the Conservancy to provide strategic guidance on Cafe operations.
Creation & Management Team
Centennial Park Conservancy raised funds for the creation of the Cafe and provides managerial oversight. The Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to sustain the vibrancy of Nashville’s Centennial Park, home to the historic Parthenon, by supporting Metro Parks in revitalizing and activating this public green space.
The Conservancy was founded in 1985 and now works to protect and revitalize the Park’s green space, underwrite the Parthenon’s exhibition and educational programs, and present accessible and inclusive community programming in the Park for the enrichment of the community (including Musicians Corner, Nashville Earth Day, Kidsville, and more).
With the opening of the Cafe, the Conservancy’s public-private partnership with Metro Parks will have stretched across multiple phases of park revitalization projects, equalling over $30+ million in philanthropic contributions to Centennial Park. Recently, it has commissioned an update to the Park’s master plan to usher in its next era.
About the Building
Croquet was once a favorite pastime in Centennial Park, particularly during the 1950s and 60s. To support this growing interest, the Centennial Park Croquet Club was formed, and outdoor courts were constructed. By 1958, an open-air structure was added, allowing for play regardless of the weather.
In 1963, the Croquet Clubhouse was built beside the courts, serving as a gathering space and equipment hub for players. A striking architectural example of mid-century modern design, the single-story brick building features a pitched roof, a triangular bay, and an angular facade. Recognized for its historical and cultural significance, it was later designated as a contributing structure in Centennial Park’s listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
As interest in croquet declined, the courts were repurposed into the Event Shelter, a space that hosted generations of celebrations, dances, and picnics — a tradition that will continue at Centennial Park’s new Event Pavilion. Though the Croquet Clubhouse remained dormant for years, its transformation into the Croquet Cafe ensures it will once again bring people together, now with coffee cups in hand instead of mallets. With the Event Pavilion located on the banks of Lake Watauga, Metro Parks and Centennial Park Conservancy have reintroduced the Clubhouse lawn as a recreational green space and picnic area.
What started as a Clubhouse during a time the Park was segregated, has evolved into an inclusive space that welcomes and serves everyone. Above all, the hope is that it joins the long list of cherished aspects of Nashville’s central park, while nourishing guests and the park they love.
