The East Nashville property last home to the recently closed Eastland Café has sold for $1.9 million, with the new owner planning a sushi restaurant.
Located at 97 Chapel Ave., the property is on the same side of the street as Rosepepper Cantina and is located in a commercial node some refer to as Walden. It is sandwiched by Eastwood and Lockeland Springs.
The new owner is Yun Choo, who owns Samurai Sushi on Elliston Place in Midtown. He could not be reached for comment, but a source who asked to go unnamed confirmed the transaction and says that Choo plans a business that will take decor and menu cues from Las Vegas sushi restaurants.
The sellers were Yvette Thomas and Guillermo “Willy” Thomas, who paid $390,000 for the property in mid-2006, according to Metro records. The Thomases also owned and operated Eastland Café, which closed Jan. 23 after a roughly 14-year run. Previously, Chapel Bistro operated from the space, having opened in the early 2000s.
The Thomases also own Park Cafe in Sylvan Park on the city’s West Side and Pomodoro, also in East Nashville and sited a few blocks east of Eastland Café.
James Moore, principal broker with Nashville-based Blue Iris Real Estate, facilitated the transaction between the two parties.
Of note, Fred Grgich once owned the property, having paid a mere $45,000 for it in March 2002 with business partner Gerald Martin. A Seattle native, Grgich was instrumental in helping launch East Nashville’s independent restaurant and bar scene in the early 2000s. For example, he was involved in some manner with Margot Café and Bar, the aforementioned Chapel Bistro, and the since-closed Family Wash.
Choo leases his space on Elliston Place, with Samurai Sushi having operated on the so-called Rock Block for more than 20 years. (The restaurant has been located there since at least the mid-1980s.) Daughter Annie Choo owns and operates raw and vegan fare restaurant Avo in Midtown's oneC1TY.
