Kid Rock, Tootsie’s Owners Partnering for Nashville Bar
Kid Rock is making plans to bring a little rock 'n' roll to Nashville's Lower Broadway in the form of a new bar. To do so, he's partnering with the brains behind one of the block's most established venues.
The Tennessean reports that the Southern rocker has teamed up with Tootsie's owners Al Ross and Steve Smith to open a four-story venue on Lower Broadway. Rock's relationship with Ross and Smith isn't new, though: The singer explained that he spends a lot of time at Tootsie's, and he wed his ex-wife Pamela Anderson there.
“I like that — the history they’ve had here and they’ve been doing this before the big conglomerates started coming in and pouring in their money. They are invested in not only living here, but invested in Broadway and businesses around it,” Rock explains.
Despite his trust in Ross and Smith, Rock does understand the risk of putting his name on the bar: “I’m scared to put my name on anything, because my name is on it," he admits. "If I put my stamp on it and have a vision for it and it’s something that’s detrimental, it’s not worth the money or risk. At this point, I don’t need to take risks. I want to do things that are fun and with good people.”
The massive, yet-to-be-named space will include four stages, one on every floor, and an additional stage on the roof. In addition to the outdoor space on the roof, the building was built with huge windows that can be opened up to make every floor have an open-air vibe. Aside from live music, food will play a big part in the bar; the menu will include everything from salads to sliders and even high-end steaks.
Rock previously opened a restaurant in his hometown, called Made in Detroit, that gave him relevant experience. Other country music celebrities that have venues nearby are Blake Shelton, Dierks Bentley and Alan Jackson.
Rock plans to head back out on the road late this summer for his Red Blooded Rock 'n' Roll Redneck Extravaganza Tour. The tour will kick off on Aug. 3 in Bangor, Maine, and span 15 cities nationwide before concluding on Oct. 12 in West Palm Beach, Fla. Brantley Gilbert and Wheeler Walker Jr. are slotted to perform at most of the tour's stops, with additional support from A Thousand Horses on select dates. More information about the tour can be found on Kid Rock's website.
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