Morgan Wallen’s New Bar and Restaurant Takes Broadway by Storm in Downtown Nashville
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The latest addition to the Nashville Broadway scene, “This Bar & Tennessee Kitchen,” a project owned by country music artist Morgan Wallen, opened its doors on Saturday morning to a horde of eagerly waiting fans and tourists.
Delayed Opening Brought Anticipation to a Boil
While it was originally meant to launch operations over the Memorial Day Weekend, the venue’s opening was delayed due to a series of hitches encountered by the TC Restaurant Group, the management company tasked with managing the establishment.
Reasons for the Holdup
Last week, it was reported that the group was awaiting the Metro Beer Board’s consent to cater or issue a temporary beer license for the bar. A few necessary permits were still pending, notably from the Fire Marshal and Metro Codes department. On Friday, the Metro Beer Board confirmed that all required authorizations had been granted, clearing the path for the venue to open its doors finally.
A Controversial Signage Dispute
However, the bar’s delayed opening wasn’t only due to administrative hurdles. Metro Nashville had previously voted against allowing the display of the bar’s signage. The 4th Avenue Property LLC, who own the property, required a green light from the Metro Nashville Council to commence with the construction and installation of the 20-foot-tall bar sign. Unfortunately, this resolution faced significant opposition: out of 37 Metro Council members, 30 voted against it.
Concerns over Wallen’s Past Incidents
This decision was predominantly dictated by incidents from Wallen’s past, including an arrest for hurling a chair from the top of another Broadway bar and recorded usage of a racial slur. The TC Restaurant Group firmly denied that the rejected bar sign contributed to the delay in the venue’s launch.
About the Venue
“This Bar and Tennessee Kitchen” is a six-story establishment that combines a bar, restaurant, and live music in Nashville’s prominent Lower Broadway district, located strategically near the historic Ryman Auditorium at 107 4th Avenue North. The venue boasts a whopping 30,000 square feet and features three live music stages, six bars, and an open-air rooftop. The southern delicacy-filled “Tennessee Kitchen” is a particular highlight, featuring a range of bar bites, Tennessee favorites, and even some of Wallen’s mother’s own recipes.
Despite the delays and controversies, the long-awaited opening was greeted with great excitement, demonstrating the pull of the rising country star and Nashville’s enduring appetite for live music and southern cuisine. The success of “This Bar & Tennessee Kitchen” adds another feather in the Music City’s cap and prolongs Broadway’s legacy as the entertainment hub of Nashville.