My memories of the Lebanon town square from when I was a kid growing up in Gladeville in the 1990s would induce a groan. I used to hate it when my parents mentioned going – it was nothing but old antique stores! As soon as I was old enough to stay home alone, I wouldn’t think twice about skipping out on those trips. But, it’s funny how things have changed since those days. Now, whenever we have the rare free Saturday or Sunday, heading out to the square for a leisurely morning is how I choose to unwind.
May 2nd, 2026 marked the date that I first got my life back after the cycle of the 2026 NFL Draft had consumed my life for the previous four months. My wife asked what I wanted to do that day, and my answer was “Lebanon.” I had a moment of reflection on the way out there about how things have changed so much. There used to be little there for me – now, it’s the first place that pops into my head on free days. We’ve built quite a routine of Polly Sparrow Bakery > Harper’s Books > either Town Square Social or Cedar City Brewing for lunch. You might think that sounds crazy – how could we possibly be hungry again that close to a trip to the baker? Do not underestimate how much time my wife and I can spend combing the shelves in Harper’s Books.
That morning, we added a new wrinkle to our routine. We made the usual stop at Polly Sparrow Bakery, where I had a Cuban croissant that might’ve been the best creation I’ve ever eaten there. Flaky, rich croissant…fresh tomatoes, caramelized onions, pickles, mustard….yeah, man. That’s the good stuff. But, afterwards, we branched out a bit. I had seen that a new place called Action Nerd Fun Spot had opened up recently. I’m a bit of a nerd. I have a small comic book collection. So, I figured why not check it out?
It’s a really cool shop. Sometimes, you walk into these comic shops and it’s hit or miss with the selection. Action Nerd had some truly impressive stuff, professionally graded as well, that you just don’t see every day. We didn’t even realize it was Free Comic Book Day. So, we picked up a stack for our buddy’s son, who is beginning to show an interest in Spider-Man and his rogue’s gallery. But, this is certainly a haven for nerds and collectors alike – as long as my wife doesn’t groan too much, we’ll probably have to add it to our rotation.
From there, it was on to Harper’s Books. I’m running out of space for all of the books I own, but that never stops me from putting a stack together at Harper’s. These used book stores these days are getting a little out of control with their prices, but Harper’s has always stayed reasonable and that’s why it’s become my shop of choice. They do have new selections, but for me, every time I walk into that store, it feels like a treasure hunt. It’s one of the few places I can go and genuinely drown out the noise of everyday life.
We had other plans that day, so we skipped out on our usual stop at Town Square Social or Cedar City Brewing. But, I’ll say that you can’t beat the burgers and cold beers at Cedar City. And, you can’t beat the hot chicken tacos at Town Square Social. Both serve as awesome spots to take a break, get a frosty cold adult beverage, eat a good meal, and relax for a little bit. That’s what it’s all about to me – it’s the art of getting time to pass slowly, and I’ve found that the Lebanon town square is a great place to accomplish that.
I guess I haven’t slowed down for long enough in a while to realize just how much that part of town had been built up in recent years. Sometimes, we’ll even make a trip around Nirvana Candy Company. We might dip into Main Street Mercantile & Creamery for a milkshake. Hell, it feels like there’s always something new to explore in the area. There are all kinds of little boutiques and shops along the square now that we haven’t even been to. My point here is that if you haven’t recently visited this lovely gem tucked away just a short drive out of Nashville, you might want to make plans to. The Lebanon town square has evolved, and there’s just about something for everyone there now.
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, second on Football & Other F Words, analyst for Stacking The Inbox, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD, #BeBetter, and ‘Minds right, asses tight.’ “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, the NFL Draft, Nashville, Yankee Candle, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley.
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