Under Construction: Mediterranean fare with Southern twist comes to Chattanooga's Southside

photo Steve Waters, left, and Bruce Stewart use a table saw at Bella Vita.

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.

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