Tolkien fans and non fans alike are flocking to Murfreesboro, Tennessee’s latest pub: The Green Dragon Public House! Opened in March, 2014, this cozy pub offers a selection of food and drink worthy of second breakfast, elevenses, luncheon, Afternoon tea, Dinner, and/or supper.
I asked owner Joe Minter about his introduction to the works of Tolkien and the decision to open a Tolkien-themed pub:
“I read The Hobbit when I was 10-11 years old and The Lord of the Rings when I was in high school. I am now 52 and have had a life long fascination with Tolkien’s writings such as The Silmarillion. I read while in college and have continued to keep up with Christopher Tolkien’s compilations of his father’s works.”
“These were the first fantasy books I read and they have continued to define the genre for me. The world he created has had a special appeal to me, being one separate from machines and the pollution we now see…This idyllic world is one I think many people would like to live in and The Green Dragon is my way of paying homage to Tolkien’s work.”
“After working for The Home Depot for 16 years I finally became determined to strike out on my own, before I was too old. My wife Kimberly and I formed our company in 2012 and began plotting the Dragon. Kimberly and her father Wayne helped tremendously on design and build out of the pub this past fall and winter…The pub is located in an old creamery industrial building…we have a small ground floor space for the pub proper which connects to a warehouse where we will brew once the business is sufficiently established. Food specialties include our soup of the day ranging from Moroccan tangine to red beans and rice, to french dip sandwiches, apple/brie sandwiches and smoked salmon.”
For directions, hours, and daily menu specials check out The Green Dragon’s Facebook page.
