Neighborhood Watch

The latest evidence of retail resurgence in and around Rutledge Hill can be found at the corner of Peabody Street and Fourth Avenue, where Charlie Robin and Jim Blumberg of Robin Realty Co. are working to populate a food court to serve the growing downtown community. In the shadow of the high-rise Encore condominiums, near the newly opened Andrew Chadwick’s on Rutledge Hill and the much-anticipated Crema coffee shop, the unadorned red-brick storefront at 319 Peabody St. is about 100 feet long and could house several tenants. Robin, whose company is responsible for leasing the property, says he doesn’t have any firm contracts yet, but he’s hoping for a mix along the lines of submarine sandwiches, Italian pizzas, pastas and salads, and chicken wings, with some delivery included.

Meanwhile, on the other side of Broadway, a small dining nexus is emerging on Union Street, as longtime downtown resident Koto Japanese Restaurant and Sushi Bar relocates from Seventh Avenue. Owners Hajime “Haji” and Songmi Keruma, who helped blaze the trail for raw fish in Nashville more than two decades ago, are vacating their current building because it sits in the footprint of the future federal courthouse. The Kerumas are putting the finishing touches on their new home at 421 Union St., where they will share the block with relative newcomer 417 Union restaurant and veteran establishment The Sports Page (419 Union). Haji hopes to open this week. He expects the menu to remain the same, with the possible addition of some new sushi rolls. But he is waiting to get a bead on the customer traffic in his new neighborhood before he determines the restaurant’s schedule, so if you’re headed there in the opening days, it’s a good idea to call ahead: 255-8122.