The Story Behind The Pharmacy’s “Burger Time Machine”

The partnership between a burger promotion and a community preservation program may seem unlikely, but the story behind The Pharmacy’s “Nashville Burger Time Machine” demonstrates just how powerful this unexpected union can be.

Nestled in the vibrant neighborhood of East Nashville, Tennessee, The Pharmacy Burger Parlor & Beer Garden is a living testament to the dynamic synergy between a restaurant and its community. Since its 2012 opening, The Pharmacy has become integral to the local narrative, seamlessly weaving itself into the fabric of East Nashville’s identity.

Originally conceived as a nod to the bygone era of the apothecary, The Pharmacy Burger’s journey from a quaint burger parlor to a community cornerstone has been remarkable. Its history mirrors the evolution of East Nashville itself, transforming from a burgeoning neighborhood into a thriving cultural hub. The founders’ commitment to preserving the area’s character is evident in the restaurant’s charming aesthetic, echoing the nostalgic charm of a vintage pharmacy.

Boasting an impressive selection of German wurst and beer, Nashville’s “Wurst-Burger” joint is also its original biergarten and an old-school soda fountain serving legendary phosphates, milkshakes, and ice cream sodas. The Pharmacy Burger believes in serving the very best products at the very best value. Using grass-fed beef for its legendary burgers and 100% pure cane sugar in its sodas, Music City’s hardest-working kitchen staff grinds, stuffs, and smokes every sausage they serve. The Pharmacy team is proud of its accolades but takes even more pride in its community.

The Pharmacy Burger has a deep-rooted connection to its community and has become a rallying point for East Nashvillians. It’s a place where friends gather, families celebrate, and newcomers experience the warm embrace of community spirit. So it only makes sense that the restaurant decided to pay homage to Nashville’s history with its “Nashville Burger Time Machine” promotion.

Daniel Frazier, Director of Operations, has been a burger lover his whole life. As a Nashville local, he has a soft spot for some of his favorite area establishments that, unfortunately, have now closed. Wanting to pay respect to the eateries that came before his own, Frazier decided to resurrect some of his most-missed dishes (in burger form, of course) so that he and everyone else could enjoy them one more time.

The Time Machine promotion began in September 2023 and runs through March 2024. Each month features a recreation of a customer favorite over the years from each restaurant being honored, with The Pharmacy Burger’s own spin on the original inspiration. Some of the restaurants highlighted include Rotier’s Restaurant, Gold Rush, Edgefield Sports Bar & Grill, King Solomon Gyros, Arnold’s Country Kitchen, and Omni Hut.

In this creative venture, The Pharmacy Burger is partnering with Historic Nashville, Inc. (HNI) in hopes of preserving the Nashville Nine. The Nashville Nine program focuses on maintaining properties associated with Nashville’s rich history, including Civil Rights–era properties and beyond.

The Pharmacy Burger decided to collaborate with HNI on the “Nashville Burger Time Machine” campaign because of the team’s passion for honoring Nashville’s past. The partnership just seemed like a natural fit given that the restaurant and the charity share the same goals of highlighting the importance of looking back and cherishing the history of Music City, whether through food or properties at risk of demolition.

Since 2009, HNI has published the annual Nashville Nine, a list of local historic properties endangered by demolition, neglect, or development, compiled through a public nomination process. This community-driven program brings attention to a wide variety of the city’s at-risk historic and cultural resources, including historic buildings and other places that matter to the people of Nashville. These properties represent a range of historic periods, architectural styles, and building types that embody Nashville and Davidson County’s rich and diverse history.

The JohnEtta Hayes House

Inspiration for this collaboration revolves around the simple truth that food brings people together. Gathering with friends, family, colleagues, and acquaintances to eat delicious, comforting, filling burgers is a tried-and-true bonding experience, and it can turn even the worst day around.

For example, at The Pharmacy, hamburgers are the centerpiece of its exceptional menu full of handcrafted foods. Nashvillians know and love the extensive burger options. In this instance, burgers have genuinely worked to bring the East Nashville community together—and the success and stellar reputation of the parlor rely on the fact that burgers remain at the center of our national culture and communities.

Hamburgers are comfort food at its finest. And they have the innate ability to evoke a sense of home. Additionally, burgers are affordable, so making them the focus of the promotion allows any community member to join in on the fun. And lastly, there truly is no limit to the types of burgers that can be created. The Pharmacy Burger’s mission is to take inspiration from varying Nashville restaurants to invent unique burger combinations. The sheer possibilities that burgers possess make them the perfect medium for a “Time Machine” promotion, so as many people as possible can not only invest in community preservation but find themselves having a memorable meal with a nostalgic flavor at the same time.

As any visitor to the joint knows, The Pharmacy Burger Parlor & Beer Garden serves up an exceptional experience for the Nashville community with every burger it makes. Through its collaboration with Historic Nashville, Inc. and a passion for paying homage to Nashville’s history, the “Nashville Burger Time Machine” event dishes out a hearty serving of love for Music City sandwiched between two buns.