Spread Market Turns Recs into Relationships

Words by Ashley Locke

Photos by Danielle Atkins

We all have that one friend who always seems to know what’s good—the perfect cheese for a snack plate, the trendiest natural wine, the most mouth-watering tinned fish. In Nashville’s Germantown neighborhood, Spread Market & Larder is that friend.

Co-owners Chad and Alex Kelly opened Spread in 2022, and the duo didn’t consider any other neighborhood. “We were living in Germantown, and I can’t tell you the number of times we wanted a market to pop into,” Alex said. Driven by a desire to contribute to Nashville’s burgeoning small business scene, the market brings to Germantown what White’s Mercantile brought to 12 South when it first opened—a sense of place and identity in the community. “It feels cool to be able to contribute to that part of the city.”

Born from the simple idea of recommending great products to friends, it has become more than just a place to shop for snacks—it’s a community space where familiar faces are a constant. “We get a lot of neighbors. We see a lot of the same faces two or three times a week,” Chad said.

Spread Market & Larder caters to a specific niche, offering a selection of snacking foods that elevate any at-home dining experience. Post pandemic, people rushed back to restaurants. The allure of getting out of the house and socializing amongst friends—and strangers—was undeniable. But as dining prices have risen, many folks have been rediscovering the pleasure of dining in. It may not be a Wagyu steak, but a meal reimagined with little luxuries such as tinned fish or chili crisp that takes the standard weeknight menu to a new place. There’s a specialness in enjoying something fancy at home.

It’s not a place where you’d go to get a meal, but rather where you’d find the perfect ingredients for an indulgent snack or a unique addition to your home-cooked dishes. Chad and Alex’s approach to stocking the market is deeply personal, focusing on products they love and use themselves. “The way we like to eat is a spread, just a bunch of snacks. That’s where we got the name,” Alex said. “We follow the customer and our guts. These are products that we love, and that’s why we’re choosing them.” 

From Graza—their number one seller—to the everyday items people use, give as gifts, or take to a party, each product is curated with care. “When we were first placing our orders, we were actually emailing with the companies and not going through large distributors. We’ve developed relationships with all of these people,” Chad said.

They like to talk about the products just as much as they like to eat them. “The coolest thing is telling people a fun fact about each product, and we want people to take that home and share it with whoever they’re eating with,” said Alex.

One of the market’s crowning glories is its bread, made fresh daily by Chad himself. The demand is so high that it sells out before lunch, a sign of the community’s appreciation for well-crafted food. Similarly, the market’s sandwiches, known for their simplicity and deliciousness, are a hot commodity, often selling out just as fast. It’s all a labor of love. “All of our bread is naturally leavened—iit’s all sourdough based. A set of baguettes takes four days to make,” said Chad. “It’s something that keeps me in hospitality without working 90 hours a week in the kitchen—it’s family-friendly, daytime hours. It checks all of our boxes as people and a family.” 

Stemming from Chad’s passion for wine, the market recently began a wine club to help introduce shoppers to the selection they have in store. It consists of three options:

Pairing Pack – bottle + pantry item

Try Me – two wines

Try Me Double – four wines

“My favorite part of our wine club is the pairings box. It’s a bottle of wine and a pantry item. The cards talk through both, and when we’re putting them together, we’re thinking about, ‘What would be fun to say at a dinner party?’” said Alex.

Chad and Alex understand the importance of small businesses in a rapidly growing city such as Nashville. In a world where big chains dominate, places such as Spread Market & Larder help maintain the character of a neighborhood—reminding people of the value of personal touch, the warmth of seeing a familiar face, and the comfort of a place where everyone knows your name.

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Jose Gourmet Fried Mussels in Marinade $13

When it comes to tinned fish on the go, something in marinade takes out the guesswork. Eat these fried mussels directly on a chip or piece of bread, and don’t let the leftover sauce go to waste (it makes a great dip).  

• House Pimento Cheese $8 – Using goat cheese instead of mayo, this pimento cheese is tangy but still classic. 

• Lady Edison Extra Fancy Country Ham $20 – Salty but not too salty, a little funky, and buttery, this North Carolina ham goes well with everything. 

• Divina Chili Fig Spread $7 – Every good spread needs a good jam, and this one hits home for fans of both sweet and spicy. 

• Matiz Piparra Peppers $7 – Something pickled rounds out the other flavors, and these peppers (not spicy) pack a punch of vinegar.  

• Marin French Cheese – Camembert $10 – Any cheese is invited to our picnics! The petit servings of French cheese mimic brie with an earthier taste. Great paired with spicy jam! 

• Matiz Marcona Almonds $12 – Rich and nutty, these almonds can be eaten by a handful. 

• Torres Chips (Olive Oil) $5 – Oddly enough, we prefer a chip to a cracker. These chips are hearty enough to hold a bite of tinned fish or a scoop of pimento cheese. 

• House Demi Baguette $5 – The sourdough demi baguette is just the right size for a two-person picnic. 

• Kolsvart Swedish Fish (Raspberry) $9 – End the spread with something sweet; a great choice is Swedish fish (a Spread Market best seller). 

• Molino A Vento Carricante contact wine $20 – Notes of apricot, nectarine, and sea salt! Pair this (chilled) with anything picnic-y

• Rodica Malvasia (Pet Nat) $28 – Bubbly and bright with notes of meyer lemon!