I don’t believe in cursed restaurant locations anymore. Sure, 1115 Porter Road felt a little snakebit as a succession of restaurants (Niko’s Bar, Zavós and Cafe Fundamental) gave it a run there before Julia Jaksic made it her own with Cafe Roze. And I’ve lost count of the number of attempts prospective restaurants have taken at the former Germantown Cafe East/Allium space at 501 Main St.
When the right person or team finds the right opportunity, I believe they can make it happen. I’m hoping that’s the case with the upcoming opening of Maggie’s Place at 905 51st Ave. N. in The Nations. Between that address and the alternate listing of the property’s yard at 5104 Illinois Ave., Maggie’s new place has been home to a parade of other drinking and dining options, including Fifty First Kitchen & Bar, El Paseo Mexican Kitchen, Patio & Dog Park (because how could that combination of concepts not work out?) and, most recently, Field House Tavern.
New life is being breathed into the space by a team of established local hospitality professionals, including Ian Byars of Sonny’s Patio Pub & Refuge, Steve Perdue and Jacob Forth of nearby bar Perfectly Fine, personal chef and hospitality investor Edward Lipnickas, and Rob Buck of Savager LLC, who is managing the buildout for Maggie’s Place.
By the way, I also consider myself a “personal chef and hospitality investor” whenever I cook dinner for my girlfriend or invest in several beers at Brown’s Diner on nights I don’t cook.
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But seriously, this group has a definite vision for Maggie’s as a new neighborhood hang, and if we know one thing about The Nations, it has been and will continue to experience pretty remarkable growth. Their plan is to create a restaurant and bar serving lunch, dinner and late-night menus with both indoor and al fresco seating, including a huge outdoor area with big televisions, yard games and fire pits.
The clientele will intentionally morph over the course of a day and night from family-friendly before 7 p.m. to adults-only once Wheel of Fortune signs off.
“This property is a neighborhood gem, and we are planning to use the entire indoor and outdoor space as an amenity for those who live, work and play here,” says Byars. “The term ‘neighborhood bar’ gets tossed around often, but our goal is to give our neighbors what they’d like to see in The Nations — great food, great drinks and an easygoing atmosphere. Bring your dogs, watch the game on TV or play some games in the yard.”
5104 Illinois Ave.
The drinks will lean toward “island time,” with tropical favorites as well as nonalcoholic options and beers available by the bottle, bucket and pitcher. The food program will be under the watchful eye of chef Javier Bonacic, whom you might remember from his long stint at Subculture Urban Cuisine and Cafe off Nolensville Road near Old Hickory Boulevard. Together with his brother Pablo, the Bonacics earned great acclaim (and several wins in Nashville Scene Hot Chicken, Burger and Sandwich Weeks) for their innovative take on international cuisine. Bonacic’s menu at Maggie’s will concentrate on unfussy handheld foods like tacos, mesquite-smoked chicken wings and his signature quesadilla pocket.
While the official opening date is still under wraps, you can follow Maggie’s Place at their website for the latest news.
