The minds from behind local favorite Once Upon A Time in France will open a new concept in East Nashville serving curated cocktails in a French-inspired atmosphere. French Connection is slated to open by late summer at 925 Gallatin Ave. in the space of the former Mel’s Wines and Spirits store, although an official grand opening date has not yet been announced.
Entrepreneur Melvil Arnt and his fiancé Natasha Nancel are the owners of the cocktail bar. Both have personal ties to the country the concept is based on, with Arnt being a native Frenchman who moved to Nashville in 2016 to pursue music, and Nancel hosting a radio show entitled “The French Connection” on a local station WXNA.
The space will feature a modern and quaint atmosphere with an emphasis on curated mixed drinks. Though it’s unconfirmed what food will be offered, it’s expected that small plates and snacks may be on the menu to complement cocktails, such as olives and mixed nuts.
“We’re going to completely embrace the concept of a cocktail. We’ll have a couple of beers, a couple of wines, but really, it is truly cocktails. People will know that they are stepping into a European-style upscale cocktail lounge,” Arnt originally told the Nashville Scene.
Since French Connection will be converted from Arnt’s former wine shop, the space will only consist of 40 seats total, with 12 at the bar and 28 divided among tables, and is located just down the street from Once Upon A Time in France.
According to the Scene, Dutch mixologist Martin Terporten will develop the cocktail list from European spirits, aiming to serve 95 percent of its liquor from Europe, with bourbon as the sole exception. Drink prices will be set between $12 and $15.
Though the restaurant does not yet have a website set up, customers can stay up to date with the grand opening of French Connection on its Instagram page as the summer comes closer to an end.
