Inside hospitality group Elia's plans to open 10 Nashville restaurants and bars by 2027

Detroit-based real estate and hospitality group Elia announced big plans this week: It will acquire and open 10 restaurants and bars in Nashville over the course of the next three years.

The company will start with The Valentine, a four-story Lower Broadway bar, restaurant and music venue to replace a boot shop, and a new location for upscale Detroit favorite Zuzu, an Asian restaurant and bar.

"Elia started close to 20 years ago, and we've been building and growing out team for this moment," CEO and founder Zaid Elia said. "Ten is a number, but for us, it's a commitment to a community that we can hopefully enhance."

He said the company will direct its initial focus to downtown and grow outward "like a spider web."

The plan is a lofty one, and while Elia said he can't put an exact number on the total investment yet, he's expecting the projects to cost well over $25 million. He said the sweeping three-year plan is a way for him and his company to demonstrate that they're "all in" on Nashville.

"When you look at the entertainment that's here, you obviously compare it to areas like Las Vegas and Miami and those kinds of high-traffic communities. They've been doing it for decades and decades," Elia said. "We feel, to use baseball terms, development and hospitality is in the fourth inning. We feel that there's a long stretch to be had here."

Zuzu, The Valentine and more to come

The Michigan-based developer got his start with restaurants and nightlife venues in Detroit. Elia's portfolio ranges from an Italian-American concept in a historic building to a trendy cocktail bar billed as a summer hot spot.

In 2021, when company leaders were discussing expansion, Nashville was the top city on the list. Elia said his team has been driving back and forth between Michigan and Tennessee over the last few years to get to know the community and the market.

So far, the group has released details on two Nashville properties.

The first is a 9,000 square-foot Lower Broadway bar called The Valentine, which the company recently acquired from its previous owner. The Valentine first opened in 2016, replacing the Boots ’n’ More store with four stories of "upscale saloon" decor, numerous stages for live music and a breezy rooftop.

Elia plans to update the space while still "preserving its Music City roots." The company is currently working with The Valentine's local team to transition management.

The other fully-fledged Nashville project is a new location of Zuzu, an elevated Asian-influenced restaurant and bar. Its flagship is in downtown Detroit, and Elia announced in March that the Nashville location will open later this year on First Avenue South.

After that, at least eight more Elia restaurants and bars are on their way. The company's CEO said two more properties are close to being finalized and may be announced this summer.

"Finding the locations is obviously difficult as Nashville is a very strong market. There's a very strong demand, but we've been fortunate enough to develop great relationships within the community," Elia said. "It just takes time."

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