Downtown in Nashville in Davidson County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Site of First Store

Photographed By Shane Oliver, December 4, 2021

1. Site of First Store Marker

Inscription. Lardner Clark, “Merchant and Ordinary Keeper,” came from Philadelphia, Penn. in the early 1780s with ten horses packed with goods to sell. He established Nashville’s first drygoods store by 1783, on a site 30 yards east. Clark sold calicoes, unbleached muslin, thimbles, pins, liquors, and provender for horses. Many customers traded pelts and furs for his goods. The building—which served as a store, tavern, and dwelling—faced south and was known as “the house with the piazza.”

Erected 1968 by the Historical Commission of Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County. (Marker Number 3.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1783.

Location. 36° 9.915′ N, 86° 46.633′ W. Marker is in Nashville, Tennessee, in Davidson County. It is in Downtown. Marker is at the intersection of 2nd Ave North and Bank Street, on the right when traveling north on 2nd Ave North. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 436 2nd Ave N, Nashville TN 37219, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Post-Emancipation Violence in America / Lynching and the Subversion of Legal Rights (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Gerst House (about 400 feet away); Printer's Alley Garage

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(about 400 feet away); The Seeing Eye (about 400 feet away); Founding of Nashville (about 500 feet away); Site of Methodist Episcopal Church Publishing House (about 500 feet away); Jacques Timothe Boucher de Montbrun (about 500 feet away); Nashville' Public Square (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Nashville.

More about this marker. This marker replaces another marker nearby also titled “Site of First Store.”

Although the erection date states 1968, this marker was likely erected sometime between 2018-2020. For some reason, this marker maintains the erection date for the previous marker which it replaced.

Photographed By Shane Oliver, December 31, 2021

2. Site of First Store Marker

Marker is located on the wall of a building which is currently undergoing renovations.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 26, 2021, by Shane Oliver of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 139 times since then and 7 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on December 26, 2021, by Shane Oliver of Richmond, Virginia. 2. submitted on December 31, 2021, by Shane Oliver of Richmond, Virginia. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.