Four new restaurants slated for Nashville's dynamic Wedgewood Houston neighborhood

Global real estate investment group Hines recently started construction on the redevelopment of its Wedgewood-Houston industrial warehouse into a mixed-use property at 429 Houston Street.

It's one in a series of investments from the Houston, Texas-based developer in the popular, ever-evolving Nashville neighborhood.

By summer 2025, Hines plans to open four new WeHo restaurants in partnership with investment firm Cresset Partners.

The group first purchased the Houston Street property in December 2019 for $7.95 million. At the time, it was a warehouse and home to Jackalope Brewing Company's production brewery and taproom.

In the last four years, the property has been subject to some permitting changes, including a plan that the City Council adopted in 2020 to allow for specific development of residential, retail and office spaces in the area. That plan prohibits the space from being developed for alternative financial services, automobile convenience or a short-term rental property.

Hines' redevelopment aims to turn the building into a dedicated retail property with space for three tenants. The new construction will add square footage, a wrap-around outdoor patio, additional site infrastructure and dedicated space for parking.

"Wedgewood Houston has become a sought-after destination for world-class dining and retail brands, and the redevelopment of 429 Houston will help ensure that the property remains part of the neighborhood’s compelling offerings for years to come," Hines Managing Director David Lawrence said in a statement.

Hines expects some or all of the construction to be complete by mid-2025.

Four new restaurants: Mexican, Mediterranean and more

Of the four restaurants Hines plans to open in Wedgewood-Houston, two will be at 429 Houston Street: Bodega Taqueria y Tequila and Aba. Both are set to open by mid-2025.

The first is a fast-casual Mexican restaurant with menu highlights like a birria quesadilla, surf-and-turf burrito and yuca fries during the day. Then, in the evenings, Bodega hosts a vibrant nightlife scene. Its other locations in Miami and Chicago have landed on numerous "best bars and nightclubs" lists in their areas.

Aba is a Chicago-based Mediterranean restaurant with a California influence. Its first location opened in 2018, and the concept has since expanded to Miami and Austin. Signature dishes on the menu include smoky garlic hummus, whipped feta spread, shawarma-spiced skirt steak and crème brulée pie.

The other two new restaurants will be less than half a mile away at The Finery, a mixed-use space that includes apartments, office space and retail. They are Mexican spot Dos Santos and upscale Japanese place Sushi Row.

Denver-based restaurateur Jason Wallenta cofounded and owns both restaurants. Between them, menu offerings include Tulum-style shrimp ceviche, a variety of tacos, caviar service and specialty sushi rolls.

“We are beyond excited to call Nashville our new home,” Wallenta said in a statement. “More specifically, the Wedgewood-Houston neighborhood which has been so welcoming. Community is so important to us, and that is why we are honored to be a part of this culinary endeavor.”

Dos Santos is slated to open in October, and Sushi Row plans to open in early 2025.

What's next for Jackalope Brewing?

Jackalope Brewing, the local brewery that debuted its Wedgewood-Houston location in 2018, will remain open at 429 Houston Street throughout the construction and redevelopment, according to a Tuesday news release from Hines.

The business will stay in its current 16,200-square-foot space as one of 429's three tenants upon construction completion as well.

What makes Wedgewood-Houston 'sought-after'

Hines pointed to the dynamic dining scene in Wedgewood-Houston as a significant draw to the area, including the eagerly-awaited openings of modern Japanese spot Momotaro and beloved New York City bistro Pastis. A news release on Tuesday also mentioned the nearby members-only hotel Soho House as a driving force for development in the neighborhood.

Lawrence, Hines's managing director, said there is an "unmet demand" in Nashville for creative multi-use spaces. He listed Fulton Market in Chicago and South Congress in Austin as examples of what Wedgewood-Houston has potential to become.

"Hines first became interested in Wedgewood-Houston because we saw the potential for a unique and walkable neighborhood at the edge of downtown," he said. "Wedgewood-Houston exudes those qualities for Nashville, and it has grown to be host to everything from art festivals to professional sporting events while also attracting world-class companies and brands, making it a special community and ideal location for new destinations like our T3 mass-timber office building, The Finery apartments and 429 Houston.”

Hadley Hitson covers trending business, dining and health care for The Tennessean. She can be reached at hhitson@gannett.com. To support her work, subscribe to The Tennessean.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville to see Mexican, Mediterranean restaurants in Wedgewood area