Charlotte Avenue is set to have another option for healthful eating early this fall. EiO & THE HIVE, “a community-based, organic food destination that will blur the lines between a dining, serving, and market experience” is coming to 5304 Charlotte Ave. in Wendell Smith’s Corner, across from Hattie B’s, Bajo Sexto Taco Lounge and neighborhood landmark Bobbie’s Dairy Dip.
The restaurant and “food destination” is the brainchild of Jennifer Masley, a former personal trainer and health coach and creator of her own line of Jenergy energy bars as well as Sip Organic Juice Bars in Michigan. Masley is also the host of The Hive Hour on Acme Radio, a program that broadcasts from Acme Feed & Seed from 3 to 4 p.m. Sundays and features interviews and news about what Nashville has to offer in local food and wellness.
EiO stands for Everything is Organic and the goal is to provide fresh, local, sustainable, and organic foods, juices, coffee and cocktails. Director of operations and executive chef Michael Martin — formerly of Sunset Grill and Whole Foods Market — will prepare a menu “inspired by food that comes from the earth; food that is created by someone instead of something; food that leaves us feeling indulged and energized.” The restaurant’s bar will offer cocktails made with handcrafted local spirits mixed with EiO’s fresh organic juices, local kombucha and alkaline waters on tap. The “hive” portion of the restaurant is a reference to its goal of building a community. The restaurant plans to serve breakfast, lunch and dinner on weekdays, and brunch, lunch and dinner on weekends.
In addition to the restaurant there will be a market for guests to purchase quick grab-and-go foods, goods from local purveyors, and exclusively branded retail items.
Backing Masley in this venture are restaurant veterans Tom Morales of TomKats (The Southern Steak & Oyster and Acme Feed & Seed) and Mike Bodnar of Fresh Hospitality (a fairly good indicator of future success, based on other Fresh Hospitality-backed concepts) as well as Steve Moore (former head of the Country Music Association) and attorney Charles Robert Bone (also a partner in Acme Feed & Seed). Follow EiO & THE HIVE on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news on their impending opening.
