Nashville, Tenn. – May 27, 2011 – Workmen’s Circle Hall, a 152-year old Jewish landmark in
Nashville’s emerging SoBro district, has been saved from demolition and reborn as commercial catering
kitchens by new owner Irene Bradley. An Open House Wed., June 1, will allow media to view steps made
to save the building, interview historians on the building’s significance in Nashville and the owner of the
property.

“This is one of the city’s oldest Jewish landmarks, but the vacant building suffered from years of neglect,
deterioration and vandalism,” said Historic Nashville, Inc. (HNI) president Robbie D. Jones. “Local
preservationists had long feared it would almost certainly be demolished. So, we are jumping for joy that
the owners decided to save it from the wrecking ball. This is a wonderful success story.”

The three-story Workmen’s Circle Hall is located at 521 5th Avenue South and played a significant role in
Nashville’s Jewish history from 1859-1952. Last fall, HNI listed it on 2010 Nashville Nine as one of the
city’s most endangered historic places. The Open House will be Wed., June 1, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

The Italianate-style townhouse was built in 1859 for Isaac Garretson, an elder statesman for the local
Jewish community, and subsequent owners included Alexander Iser and Jacob Bloomstein, both leading
members of the Jewish business and religious community. In 1927, the Workmen’s Circle purchased the
building for use as its Hall Branch 641. Founded in 1900 in New York City, the Workmen’s Circle was a
Yiddish language-oriented American Jewish fraternal organization committed to social justice, Jewish
community and Ashkenazi culture. The Workmen’s Circle used this antebellum townhouse as a
residence, lodge and community center. The Workmen’s Circle also provided aid and support to Jewish
workers, recent immigrants and community services such as hospitals.

The building retains the original cast concrete sign on the front of the building with the Workmen’s Circle
name in both English and Yiddish. From 1952 until around 2005, the building was used as a commercial
business and a private residence. The current owner purchased the building in 2009 and recently
completed Phase 1 of 3 planned phases of repairs and converted it for use as rentable commercial kitchens
called “The Platform at the Cooks’ Kitchen.” Future plans include a 100-110 person conference center, a
sample room and a 300-seat banquet and event hall.

Visit www.thecookskitchennashville.com for more information.

Media interested in attending the event should RSVP with Melissa Wyllie at
mswyllie@gmail.com.

Iser-Bloomstein House / Workmen’s Circle Hall before and after photos:

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About Historic Nashville, Inc.
Established in 1968 and renamed in 1975, Historic Nashville, Inc. (HNI) is a nonprofit 501(c)3
membership organization with the mission to “Promote and preserve the historic places that make
Nashville unique.” Over the years, HNI has successfully advocated for the preservation of such historic
places the Ryman Auditorium, Union Station, Hermitage Hotel, 2nd Avenue & Lower Broadway, and
Shelby Street Bridge, as well as neighborhood historic districts throughout the city. In 1982, HNI
established the state’s first Preservation Easement program and currently owns easements on 16 historic
landmarks with a market value of over $30 million. HNI hosts an annual membership meeting, publishes
a newsletter, maintains a website, hosts educational programs such as tours and the annual “Nashville
Nine” list of endangered properties. For additional information, please visit www.historicnashvilleinc.org
and our Facebook page.