Kid Rock's Big Ass Honky Tonk, Others Cited for Lack of Compliance

On Sunday, the Metro Public Health Department issued citations to 14 local businesses for failure to comply with public health emergency orders designed to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Among the cited restaurants was [takes deep breath] Kid Rock's Big Ass Honky Tonk Rock N' Roll Steakhouse. A photo taken at that establishment on Friday night spread like wildfire on social media over the weekend — the image, which can be seen here, clearly shows dozens of maskless patrons standing shoulder to shoulder inside the venue. 

One source familiar with performers at Kid Rock's sent along a screenshot of a group text between the venue's musicians. According to the screenshot, a Kid Rock's employee asked the performers to not "take any pictures or shoot any videos of the crowd." "The Mayor is freakin out," the message reads. See that below.

According to a statement from the Metro Public Health Department, "Kid Rock’s has been cited for serving people that were seated at the bar and for not observing proper social distancing inside the establishment." The statement goes on to say that health department director Dr. Michael Caldwell visited the bar after receiving a complaint on Friday night. "Dr. Caldwell and other health officials have had previous meetings with the management of Kid Rock’s to provide guidance on what is and is not allowed by the establishment to protect against the potential spread of the COVID-19," the statement reads.

Thirteen other restaurants were also cited for failure to comply. Among those were another Lower Broad spot, the Steve Smith-owned Honky Tonk Central, as well as Harding Pike steakhouse Sperry's and a number of fast-food restaurants. Some businesses were cited for violating Order 4 (which requires restaurants to "post signage asking customers to wear a facial covering and requires employees to wear a facial covering when interacting with the public"), while some were cited for violating Order 6 (which requires proper social distancing protocols). Two establishments (Sperry's and a pair of Tacos Bell) were cited for both.

See Metro's list of cited businesses — which doesn't include Kid Rock's, as it got its own special focus in the press release — also below.