One of the key restaurants in Nashville's dining history, The Mad Platter, is closing. Owners Marcia and Craig Jervis are selling the property, my Nashville Post colleague William Williams reports.

The Mad Platter opened in 1989, a pioneer in both the Germantown neighborhood and the concept of offering fine dining with a relaxed and fun (i.e., not stuffy) vibe.

The restaurant took off in popularity not long after it opened, and helped draw attention to the Germantown neighborhood, which 27 years later is in the midst of white-hot development boom. The restaurant was also influential in the city's culinary scene.

Two years ago, the Jervises celebrated The Mad Platter's 25th anniversary with a party and discussion of Nashville's food evolution. Invited guests included Scene food writers Carrington Fox, Kay West and Nicki Pendleton Wood, along with Tennessean alum Thayer Wine and current contributor Nancy Vienneau.

Fox wrote an appreciation of the "comfortable landmark" that is The Mad Platter in 2008.

The building at 1239 Sixth Ave. N., which was erected in 1889, is under contract for sale, the Post reports, quoting Chad Grout, principal at Urban Grout Commercial Real Estate, which is brokering the sale.

Grout would give no details about the deal, but says “The prospective buyer is very aware of what’s happening in Germantown and will be a heavy contributor to the neighborhood."

The property has been listed on the LoopNet site with an asking price of $1.7 million.

We'll keep you posted about the closure of The Mad Platter; its final night is expected to be New Year's Eve.