Jacksonville-founded Pearl Hospitality Group is in talks to redevelop the 927 Events building into a Japanese listening bar named Koto.

The concept is still being finalized, but as of summer 2025, Koto would span two stories with a live vinyl listening bar on the second floor and an izakaya — basically a pub — on the first floor. The first floor would have a more casual dining experience with a 1960s- to 1980s-inspired feel and offer drinks with small bites.

Listening bars have been popular in Japan since the 1950s, generally described as cafes with high-quality stereo equipment where customers listen to records from a library behind the bar. In the past decade, the concept made its way to America — sometimes called a hi-fi bar — and several have emerged in New York, Los Angeles, and other cities.