5th & Taylor's Daniel Lindley Opening The Back Corner, a Bar and Lounge, in Germantown

A little less than a year after opening Germantown's 5th & Taylor, chef and restaurant owner Daniel Lindley is already at work on his follow-up project: The Back Corner at 5th & Taylor, a separate bar, lounge and event space adjacent to the restaurant.

The concept, currently in the planning phase, will be a first for both Lindley and Germantown. It will be the James Beard award-nominated Chattanooga-based chef's first time to work on a project where food is not the main focus. And for Germantown, even with the restaurant boom that has occurred there over the past several years, it will be the neighborhood's first dedicated bar, as well as the first venue to offer live music.

Lindley tells Eater that back several years ago when he first started looking at the building which currently houses 5th & Taylor, he knew he wanted to put something unique in the additional space:

There isn't really a precedent in Germantown for a place like The Back Corner, particularly with live music. I want the neighborhood and the guests to kind of dictate what direction it takes. I want it to be a great place for people to gather, hang out and drink. I want it to feel great and just kind of come into its own organically.

The space is 2,300 square feet, with plans calling for stairs on both sides of the main entrance leading up to mezzanines running the length of the room, bringing the total floor space to approximately 3,000 square feet. Seating on the main floor will be lounge-style, with seating on the mezzanines consisting of six L-shaped slightly elevated banquettes on each side. A diamond-shaped bar will be centered near the entrance, with a full scale sculpture from Chattanooga-based artist Cessna Decosimo, who created 5th & Taylor's centerpiece sculpture, suspended over the bar (head below to see a rendering of the space).

At the opposite end will be a stage for live performances, with television screens creating a 12' by 12' digital backdrop on the wall behind. Lindley says that he is working to make sure everything is just right when it comes to the lighting, sound and other elements. He also wants to make sure the live entertainment they do have is "the right thing," and does not plan on having live performances every night of the week. DJs and various streaming videos (but no sports) could be other uses for the stage and screen.

As for what to expect from the beverage and food, Lindley says that he is "most interested in seeing the bar go into the kitchen more," envisioning it as a "continuation, but with an increased emphasis" on what they are doing at 5th & Taylor, referencing their current partnership with Germantown Market's Juice Bar in utilizing their fresh juices as the primary cocktail mixers. The Back Corner will share 5th & Taylor's kitchen, with an emphasis on small, shareable plates.

Lindley is hoping for a fall opening, so be sure to check back for more details as things progress.