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A new pipeline between New Orleans and Nashville is bringing with it a wave of restaurant openings in Music City. Why it matters: New Orleans businesses see Nashville as an economic powerhouse with a rapidly growing base of potential customers. The big picture: New Orleans musicians have headed to Nashville in search of new opportunities for years. - But the restaurant community's expansion into the market seems to be relatively recent — and it's in large part thanks to Nashville developer Elliott Kyle, Axios New Orleans reports.
- "He absolutely loves New Orleans and he's the throughput," says LeBlanc + Smith founder Robert LeBlanc.
The intrigue: Kyle's connection to New Orleans began when he was in college and became friends with a culinary insider there, Rene Louapre. What he's saying: "That's really the work I like to do most: Get to know independent operators on a personal level, develop some trust, and then a lot of times put my own money into these concepts because I want to put my money where my mouth is to support these people who are doing this amazing stuff," Kyle says. That method is behind New Orleans-to-Nashville spots like: The door opens in both directions: Nashville's Rice Vice recently opened a New Orleans location, though Kyle wasn't involved in that deal. Between the lines: The expansions, New Orleans hospitality owners say, are made easier by quick direct flights and a welcoming, uncompetitive industry. - "I wouldn't necessarily want to go open a restaurant somewhere if when we started talking about it, people weren't like, 'Oh my gosh that would be so great, we'd love to have you, we'd love to have more people here,' which is cool," Turkey and the Wolf's Mason Hereford says.
- In Nashville, people are "super warm and inviting and believe, like we do in New Orleans, that a rising tide raises all boats."
What's next: Kyle said more New Orleans-based brands could make the move to Nashville soon. Share this story
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