Project: Bella Vita Restaurant
Location: 1400 Cowart St., Chattanooga (formerly Niko's Southside Grill)
Owner: Tammie Taylor
Size: About 12,000 square feet
Contractor: Holderfield Development Corp., Knoxville
History: Southside Grill was the building's original tenant. Nick and Amy Kyriakidis, operators of the Acropolis Grill, bought the property in 2007 and renamed the restaurant Niko's Southside Grill. They operated it successfully until Nick Kyriakidis, who cooked at Niko's, suffered a spinal injury and had to scale back his involvement. Niko's closed Dec. 22, 2012, after helping the Southside's growth and renaissance. Restaurateurs Mike and Taylor Monen bought the property with plans for a ground-level restaurant and office space up top. The property is now owned by Cowart LLC., a group of Chattanooga investors with restaurant experience.
Scope: Bella Vita will feature Mediterranean fare with a Southern twist and a full bar area with TVs. Live performances, produced by an entertainment group out of Nashville, will be held on the second story on select nights of the week.
Schedule: Bella Vita is expected to open sometime in mid-December
Contact: Bella Vita, 423-668-> Online: www.bellavitasouthside.com
Compiled by staff writer Alex Green, who can be reached at agreen@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6480.