Jessica Bower
Is Inglewood the next big thing? With Germantown pressing at the margins of capacity and Historic West Town/The Nations/Sylvan Heights/Whatever Name Realtors Come Up With Next discovering that the Cumberland River and Interstate 40 are real boundaries that are tough to expand into, Gallatin Pike up to Briley Parkway may just be the aim of the next round of culinary darts being thrown at the map of Nashville.
Chef Ryan Bernhardt is cooking some excellent food at TKO and Dan Forberg has recently opened Inglewood Lounge in a former Mrs. Winner’s location bringing beer, cocktails and upscale comfort food to the neighborhood and encouraging curious diners to make the sojourn north to check it out.
The latest big announcement from the neighborhood comes from long-time restaurant professional Jessica Bower, who also owns Inglewood’s Steluta, a lifestyle boutique offering clothing, jewelry and home décor. Her next project will be Fort Louise, a neighborhood restaurant and hangout opening (hopefully) this spring at 1304 McGavock Pike in the cozy little bungalow that previously housed Perk & Cork, a coffeehouse and wine bar.
While she isn’t prepared to announce who her chef will be yet, Bowers promises innovative takes on modern American cuisine. Based on her experience working in restaurants around the world including notable stops at FIG in Charleston and at the James Beard-nominated Dinette in Pittsburgh, Bowers comes from good stock.
She plans to really focus on the outdoor space at Fort Louise, with a large patio serving as the prime spot for dining and drinking when the weather allows. Considering the whole building is only about 1,400-square feet in size, it seems like a good idea to expand the capabilities by activating the al fresco options.
The restaurant is named in honor of Louise Clark Fort, a prominent Nashville socialite in the first half of the past century whose name you might best recognize from her daughter, Cornelia. While Cornelia was best known as an aviatrix, her mother was the doyenne of the Nashville Garden Club and the mistress of the mansion at Fortland, 365-acre East Nashville estate.
Bower aims to recreate Fort’s attitude toward hospitality at Fort Louise, but on a much cozier scale. “We’re pouring a lot of thought, heart and soul into this concept,” says Bower. “When you come to Fort Louise, we want it to feel like you’re heading to a friend’s home for a dinner party. It’s warm, intimate and cozy — a perfect place to enjoy great food and really fun cocktails.”
Bower promises more specific information about Fort Louise to come in future weeks and months, but if her design gestalt at Steluta is any indicator, we can look forward to a light, warm and rustic interior feel. A decade ago, did you ever think you’d want to sit on a front porch in Inglewood enjoying a glass of wine and elevated Southern snacks? Well, I guess you should have, and soon you’ll be able to.
