After a few years dormant, Lower Broadway institution Ernest Tubb Record Shop is set to make a grand return on Thursday, Nov. 13.
The shop founded by the late country star opened at a different site downtown in 1947, moved to 417 Broadway in 1951 and closed in 2022 after the building changed hands a couple of times in successive years. It also historically served as the broadcast site for live performances on the Midnite Jamboree radio show (which eventually moved out to the Music Valley area near the Grand Ole Opry House).
Tusk Brothers — the brotherly duo of Jamie and Bryan Kenney, who are behind Wedgewood-Houston’s Never Never and Reunion Bar & Hotel in East Nashville — are operating the space in partnership with musician Ilya Toshinskiy (a co-owner of the building) and Tubb’s grandson Dale Tubb. The ground floor aims to be much like other honky-tonks on Broadway, with live music on two stages. On the second floor is the record store, intended to re-create the vibe of the original shop; there will also be space for acoustic performances.
The third floor is dedicated to a private event venue meant for industry showcases and other kinds of label events. Like lots of other spaces in the area, there’s a bar on the rooftop too, and in the basement there’s a period-styled VIP lounge called The Forty Seven.
“We’re beyond honored to bring back Ernest Tubb’s legacy to Broadway,” Jamie Kenney says in a release. “This space was more than a record store: It was a gathering place, a stage and a symbol of what makes country music special. We’ve worked closely with Dale Tubb to make sure every inch of the space honors that tradition while creating something new and exciting for today’s Nashville.”
Having soft-opened last month, Ernest Tubb Record Shop will celebrate its grand reopening all day on Thursday. Regular hours are 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily — keep an eye on the space’s website and Instagram account for updates. Also, the Midnite Jamboree will make its grand return to the shop on Saturday, Nov. 15 — snag a ticket to join in person or listen live on WSM.
