The Factory at Franklin

What The Factory at Franklin does

The Factory at Franklin is a historic 350,000-square-foot mixed-use retail, dining, and entertainment complex located at 230 Franklin Road in Franklin, Tennessee. Originally constructed in the early 1930s as the Allen Manufacturing Company stove works, the property transitioned through multiple industrial owners (Dortch Stove Works, Magic Chef Inc., Jamison Bedding) before Calvin LeHew acquired the dormant plant in 1997 for $1 million and reopened it as a creative community destination. The Dortch Stove Works was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997. Today the complex houses a curated mix of retail shops, restaurants (Etch, Hattie B's Hot Chicken, Saffire, Five Daughters Bakery, Honest Coffee Roasters), experiential attractions (Studio Tenn Theatre, The Mockingbird Theater, The Portrait Lab, Third Coast Clay Ceramic Studio, Ground Floor Yoga, Carousel of Dreams, charity: water Experience Lab, The Factory Gallery), commercial offices, and event venues. The property was acquired by Holladay Properties in 2023 for $56 million and is currently undergoing a multi-year renovation program to expand restaurants, green spaces, and event venues.

The Factory at Franklin operates as a commercial real estate and venue-rental business generating revenue through four primary streams: (1) recurring tenant leasing of retail, restaurant, office, and experience space within the 350,000-sq-ft complex; (2) event venue rentals of Liberty Hall (14,400 sq ft, up to 1,500 standing), Turner Theater (10,000 sq ft, up to 1,000 standing), and the Heritage Room (2,250 sq ft, up to 120 guests) for weddings, corporate events, concerts, and private gatherings; (3) ticketed event revenue, principally The Red Wheel Songwriter Series and Turner Theater programming, sold through Ticketmaster; and (4) ancillary services including $14 valet parking and $1 shuttle services in partnership with Franklin Transit Authority. Pricing is variable by tenant and event; ticket pricing examples include $35 general admission / $70 Inner Circle for The Red Wheel, $12 historic walking tours, $30 happy hour tours, $10 line dancing. The facility operates daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and serves local Franklin/Middle Tennessee residents, regional tourists, corporate event hosts, wedding planners, and ticketed show audiences. The central operating team is small (1-10 employees); the bulk of consumer-facing activity is delivered by tenant businesses rather than by The Factory's own staff.

There is no proprietary technology platform underlying the business. The core operation is venue management, tenant curation, leasing, and event programming built on a National Register-listed industrial asset. Brand recognition, the historic building itself, the curated tenant mix (including the theater anchor Studio Tenn in its 15th season, Mockingbird Theater as a music venue, and a growing experiential layer with 2025 additions), the physical footprint, and active digital marketing across web, email, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook constitute the principal commercial assets. Revenue is not publicly disclosed; the company is privately held under Holladay Properties and has not raised external funding.

Name

The Factory at Franklin

Legal name

The Factory at Franklin

Website

https://factoryatfranklin.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Factory at Franklin is a historic 350,000-square-foot mixed-use complex in Franklin, Tennessee that operates as a retail, dining, and entertainment destination, leasing space to tenants, renting event venues, and hosting ticketed programming for local and regional visitors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mixed-Use Entertainment & Event Venue

NAICS

Amusement Parks and Arcades (7131)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Concert Halls & Music Venue Operations (Symphony Halls, Recital Venues) (MPAGALAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

DJ & Electronic Music Venues (MPAGAIAE), Live Music Venues & Concert Bars (THAFAEAD), Arena & Stadium Operations (Large-Capacity Venues) (MPAGALAA), Farmers’ Markets & Farm Stands (Fresh Food) (CRAHAHAE)

Keywords

• Event venue rental
• Mixed-use retail
• Historic entertainment venue
• Tenant leasing services
• Live event hosting

Headquarters

HQ city

Franklin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tenant Leasing: The property generates revenue by leasing space to retail shops, restaurants, offices, and experience tenants within the 350,000-square-foot historic complex.
2. Event Venue Rentals: Revenue generated from renting out event spaces including Liberty Hall (14,400 sq ft), Turner Theater, and Heritage Room for weddings, corporate events, concerts, and private gatherings.
3. Ticket Sales: Revenue from ticketed events including The Red Wheel Songwriter Series, performances at Turner Theater, and other hosted concerts and shows.
4. Parking and Ancillary Services: Revenue from valet parking services ($14 per vehicle) and shuttle services during peak periods.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Factory at Franklin is a 350,000-square-foot historic mixed-use destination venue in Franklin, Tennessee, that leases space to retail shops, restaurants, offices, and experience tenants, and rents out eight event venues for weddings, corporate events, and concerts. The property also generates revenue from ticketed in-house programming (such as The Red Wheel Songwriter Series), a weekly Saturday farmers market, historical walking tours, and ancillary services like valet parking and shuttles.

Product overview

The Factory at Franklin is a historic mixed-use destination venue in Franklin, Tennessee, occupying a former stove factory complex. The offering is organized into three core pillars: (1) Retail and Dining — a curated mix of local boutiques and national restaurant brands including Etch, Hattie B's, Saffire, and Honest Coffee Roasters; (2) Event Venue Rental — multiple rentable spaces led by Liberty Hall (14,400 sq ft), Turner Theater (10,000 sq ft), and Heritage Room (2,250 sq ft), collectively hosting up to 1,500 guests; and (3) Experiential Attractions — including The Red Wheel songwriter series, Factory Farmers Market (Saturdays year-round), Carousel of Dreams (opened May 2025), Third Coast Clay pottery studio, The Portrait Lab, charity: water Experience Lab, Ground Floor Yoga, Studio Tenn Theatre, and The Mockingbird Theater. The venue also offers Historical Walking Tours and Sips & Stories Happy Hour Tours led by staff historians. Office leasing is available for commercial tenants. The property was purchased by Holladay Properties for $56 million and is undergoing ongoing renovations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Skylight Bar: Onsite bar offering cocktails in the Grand Hall with happy hour specials.
• Turner Theater
• Liberty Hall
• The Heritage Room
• The Mockingbird Theater
• The Red Wheel Songwriter Series
• Factory Farmers Market
• The Factory Gallery

Products and services

• Event Venue Rental Rental of three primary historic event venues: Liberty Hall (14,400 sq ft, up to 1,500 standing/900 theater/600 banquet), Turner Theater (10,000 sq ft, up to 1,000 standing/300 banquet), and Heritage Room (2,250 sq ft, up to 120 guests). Serves couples planning weddings, corporations hosting events, and organizations booking private gatherings.
• Office Space Leasing Commercial office space available for lease within the historic complex, including tenants such as Dark Horse Institute, Harbor Union, Treeline Bamboo Partners, and The Factory x Franklin Visitor Center.
• Retail Shops A mix of local boutiques and national brands offering artisanal goods, clothing, jewelry, and specialty items, including GG Boutique, Slim Husky's, Johnnie-O, and The Southern Tea Room.
• Restaurants and Dining A variety of dining options leased to national and regional restaurant tenants including Etch, Hattie B's Hot Chicken, Saffire, Edley's BBQ, Five Daughters Bakery, and Honest Coffee Roasters.
• The Red Wheel Songwriter Series Intimate in-the-round songwriter performance series featuring three acclaimed songwriters per show at Turner Theater every Thursday, Friday & Saturday. General admission tickets from $35 and Inner Circle tickets at $70. Sponsored by Espaces and Tequila Black Sheep.
• Factory Farmers Market Weekly Saturday farmers market held year-round from 9 AM-1 PM under the Water Tower, featuring fresh local produce, meats, baked goods, and artisanal products.
• Historical Walking Tours Guided historical walking tour covering the Factory's 95-year history, led by a staff historian. $12 per person, 1 hour duration, available Wednesdays and Fridays at 11 AM, April through October.
• Sips & Stories Happy Hour Tour Walking tour combined with happy hour beverages at The Skylight Bar, led by staff historian. $30 per person, includes 1 beverage from The Skylight in a portable cup. Available Tuesdays at 5:30 PM, April through October.
• Carousel of Dreams Enchanting carousel ride by Ken Means featuring beautifully crafted creatures for guests of all ages, opened in May 2025.
• The Factory Gallery Art gallery space presenting rotating artwork from local artists, operated in partnership with the Williamson County Arts Council.
• Line Dancing Event Recurring line dancing event at $10 per person, pay at the door (cash or card accepted).
• Valet Parking Service Valet parking at $14 per vehicle during peak periods: Thursday and Friday 5 p.m. – 10 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. – 10 p.m.
• Saturday Shuttle Service Shuttle service in partnership with Franklin Transit Authority from Liberty Elementary School on Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at $1 each way.

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• EspacesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of The Red Wheel Songwriter Series at The Factory at Franklin, providing support for this intimate in-the-round concert experience featuring Nashville songwriters.
• Tequila Black SheepminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of The Red Wheel Songwriter Series at The Factory at Franklin, supporting the songwriter concert series.
• Franklin Transit AuthorityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner with Franklin Transit Authority to offer shuttle service from Liberty Elementary School on Saturdays for $1 each way to ease parking congestion.
• TicketmasterminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTicketing platform partner for The Red Wheel Songwriter Series and other ticketed events at The Factory at Franklin.
• Music City Farmers MarketsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganizer of the Factory Farmers Market held Saturdays 9am-1pm under the Water Tower, providing fresh, local produce, meats, baked goods, and artisanal products.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Marathon Music Works: Adaptive-reuse former Marathon automobile factory in Nashville operating as a live-music venue. Comparable Nashville performance-venue economics and historic-warehouse format.
• Ponce City Market: Adaptive-reuse historic mixed-use complex in Atlanta (former Sears building) combining retail, dining, offices, and event venues. Closest comparable model to The Factory's heritage-anchor destination strategy.
• Brooklyn Bowl Nashville: Bowling alley, restaurant, and live-music venue operating in a historic Nashville building. Overlaps with The Mockingbird Theater and Red Wheel on the live-music side.
• Assembly Food Hall Nashville: Multi-vendor food hall and entertainment venue at Fifth + Broadway in downtown Nashville. Overlaps with The Factory's curated dining and live-music positioning.
• Broadway Market Nashville: Renovated historic building near Broadway in Nashville housing independent retail, food stalls, and event programming. Direct competitor for experiential dining and event spend in the Nashville market.
• The American Tobacco Campus: Adaptive-reuse former tobacco warehouse complex in Durham, NC with dining, residences, offices, and a major event venue (Durham Performing Arts Center adjacent). Comparable heritage-anchor mixed-use thesis.

Others

• Holladay Properties (parent): Owner-operator commercial real estate firm based in the Midwest that purchased The Factory at Franklin in 2023 for $56M. Parent-company reference relevant to capital-allocation and renovation-program trajectory.

Broad incumbents

• Ryman Auditorium: Iconic Nashville concert hall and former home of the Grand Ole Opry; a historic music-venue incumbent. Overlaps with Turner's recital/concert programming but operates at much larger scale and national brand recognition.
• Schermerhorn Symphony Center: Nashville's premier concert hall operated by the Nashville Symphony. Comparable on the symphony-hall / recital-venue dimension but a larger, nonprofit incumbent rather than a private commercial venue.

Emerging players

• Historic Antioch Mills: Adaptive-reuse historic mill in Nashville redeveloped into retail, dining, and event space. Comparable smaller-scale heritage-anchor mixed-use thesis within the same metro area.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/factoryatfranklin
• Instagraminstagram.com/theredwheelfranklin
• TikToktiktok.com/@theredwheelfranklin
• Xx.com/FactoryFranklin
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-factory-at-franklin

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Factory at Franklin