Ecco owners to open Tonica in Evergreen neighborhood

Ecco on Overton Park will soon have a sister restaurant down the block.

Ecco owner Sabine Bachmann will be putting a new restaurant and bar at 1545 Overton Park Ave. in the space that was most recently Parish Grocery. Bachmann also owns Libro in Novel. bookstore.

Tonica will be a Spanish-inspired bar and restaurant.

“The underlying theme is Spanish food,” Bachmann said. “It will be like how Ecco is Italian-inspired, but not an Italian restaurant.”

Bachmann said she has had her eye on that restaurant space for years. “It’s the old Marena’s. That was one of my favorite spots,” she said. “I looked at it before we opened Ecco, but it wasn’t the right space at the time.”

Luckily, the location became available just as Bachmann was considering expanding.

Bachmann said they are completely renovating the space. “It hasn’t had much love in a while,” she said, explaining they are replacing equipment as well as décor.

Plans for outdoor dining are also in the works for in front of the restaurant and in what she describes as a “New Orleans-style” alleyway behind the building.

A large and welcoming bar will be a major attraction at this new neighborhood eatery.

“Did you know gin and tonic is the specialty drink of Spain?” said Bachmann. “That is the inspiration behind the name — ‘Gin Tonica.’”

Spain is renowned for its gin and tonic cocktails that feature different fruits, botanicals and tonics. Bachmann plans to offer a wide selection of what is currently the most popular cocktail in Spain.

“We will also have Spanish wines of every color, including sparkling wines,” she said.

The menu will feature small plates inspired by Spanish tapas. She said to also expect dishes like hot wings with their own signature sauce. Paellas and a few other entrée size dishes will also be part of the offerings.

If all goes as planned with construction, the new restaurant will open in October.

Ecco opened in 2014. The beloved neighborhood restaurant is tucked away on Overton Park in the sleepy Evergreen Historic District among a line of shops and restaurants in this otherwise residential neighborhood.

The food is inspired by the Italian roots of the owners, Bachmann and her two sons, Armando and John-paul Gagliano. Armando is the executive chef and John-paul is the general manager.

Armando and John-paul will be part of the new restaurant as well.

COMMERCIAL APPEAL JOE RONDONE/THE Ecco Restaurant in Midtown’s Evergreen Historic District.

MAX GERSH / THE COMMERCIAL APPEAL Tonica, a new restaurant by the owners of Ecco, will open this Fall at 1545 Overton Park.