Getahn Ward

USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee

A Walgreens representative confirmed its pursuit of a downtown location to complement the existing store on Fifth Avenue North.

Butch Spyridon understands that 212 Broadway where FedEx is a tenant has been a prime candidate.

The property's owner, however, said Walgreens is focused on another location with more frontage of Broadway.

Downtown merchant Ed Smith doesn't mind a well-designed Walgreens, but has concerns if it sells alcohol to the homeless.

Don't count out a Walgreens store in the heart of downtown's Lower Broadway tourist district just yet.

More than two and a half years after a developer for the nation's largest drugstore chain dropped pursuit of the now-razed former Trail West boot store at 217-219 Broadway, a representative for Walgreens confirmed its ongoing interest in another downtown location to complement the existing store on Fifth Avenue North.

The representative declined comments on the specific new targeted property, but Nashville's tourism chief Butch Spyridon understands that the building at 212 Broadway that houses FedEx Office & Print Ship Center has been a prime candidate. And much like with Walgreens' previous effort, Spyridon is raising the preservationist argument that such a store won't be a good fit for the heart of downtown's tourist district.

"We need a downtown drugstore, but we just don't need it within the first five blocks of Lower Broadway," the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp.'s CEO said after raising concerns in a Friday speech to the Kiwanis Club of Nashville about how chain businesses could hurt what makes Lower Broadway unique.

The Ardent Cos. owns the four-story, 10,000 square foot building at 212 Broadway, where a FedEx Office & Print Ship Center remains the ground-floor tenant with global advertising firm VML Inc on the third floor.

Just over a year ago, Atlanta-based real estate investor Ardent paid $16 million for 212 Broadway, the former Mike’s Ice Cream shop location at 208 Broadway, the retail building at 210 Broadway that was last home to Riverfront Photo & Gifts shop and a 22-space parking lot. Since then, country artist John Rich leased 208-210 Broadway with plans to open his Redneck Riviera honky-tonk bar and restaurant.

Scott Werbel, Ardent's director of acquisitions, acknowledged being approached by Walgreens about 212 Broadway, but said he understands that the drugstore chain is now focused on another location between first and fifth avenues that would allow for more frontage on Broadway. "We still own all of it and have no intention to sell it at this time," he said about the overall property at 208, 210 and 212 Broadway.

Downtown property owner Ed Smith, whose Trail West store was the tenant for the now-demolished building at 217-219 Broadway that a developer for Walgreens once pursued, has no problem with a Walgreens drugstore/convenience store as long as design fits with the character of Lower Broadway.

"There's a real need for a Walgreens somewhere down there or CVS or something like that," he said. "I understand wanting to keep Nashville pure, but I've been to historical districts all over the country and Walgreens is everywhere. I don't believe there's any way the city is going to be able to stop a company that's all over the world. They may be able to stop them from coming on Broadway, but from Second, Third or Fourth (avenues)?"

Smith sees a potential issue for Lower Broadway bar owners and others if a new Walgreens store sells beer and other alcoholic drinks to downtown visitors and homeless people. "I've seen people give alcohol to these people," he said. "I've seen visitors give these guys drinks. I'm afraid that's the worst scenario."

Construction is underway on a Harry O's Steakhouse and honky tonk at the former Trail West boot store site, which a Walgreens developer once sought to buy, with opening targeted for New Year's eve.

Reach Getahn Ward at gward@tennessean.com or 615-726-5968 and on Twitter @getahn.