Outside Tootsie's Orchid Lounge
Roughly 24 hours after announcing he would keep the doors open to his three downtown honky-tonks — including the famed Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge — and despite recommendations from Mayor John Cooper and city health officials that all local bars temporarily close to combat the novel coronavirus, local entrepreneur Steve Smith has reversed course. In addition to Tootsie’s, Smith owns or co-owns Honky Tonk Central, Kid Rock's Big Ass Honky Tonk and Steakhouse, Rippy’s and The Diner. The latter two businesses qualify as restaurants and will remain open with certain restrictions.
Smith, a veteran Lower Broadway businessman who has garnered headlines over the years for his independent streak, issued the following statement Monday afternoon: “In cooperation with the mayor's office, Tootsie's, Honky Tonk Central and Kid Rock's Honky Tonk have closed to help protect public health. Rippy's and The Diner will operate under the guidelines set forth for restaurants and take precautions to keep our staff and patrons safe. We hope to continue working with local officials to minimize the hardship this puts on our over 800 staff members and 300-plus musicians.”
On Sunday afternoon, Cooper called an emergency meeting of the Metropolitan Board of Health — after downtown’s bars and honky-tonks drew typically robust crowds Saturday night. Revelers hit the venues despite guidance from Metro and other authorities encouraging social distancing. Sunday afternoon, Director of Health Michael Caldwell issued a mandate that all area bars shut down until further notice. Caldwell also imposed restrictions on restaurant capacity, limited guest counts to 100 and limited bar service at restaurants to 50 percent of capacity with no standing allowed.
The Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp. and the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce both released statements supporting Metro’s actions. On Sunday, Alex Jahangir, chair of the Metro Coronavirus Task Force formed by Cooper a few days ago, said the dramatic moves are necessary because of the uncertainty over COVID-19. Smith countered by noting Metro’s effort is “unconstitutional” and targeted a “select group of businesses.”
“We are compassionate with those who have contracted the COVID-19 coronavirus and all who are helping manage the crisis as the entire world addresses the outbreak,” Smith said Sunday. “However, a Tootsie’s patron as immediate as last night [sic], mentioned having lived through the polio epidemic and didn’t recall such extreme measures being handed down in history. In response, Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge, Rippy’s, Honky Tonk Central, Kid Rock’s Big Ass Honky Tonk & Steakhouse and The Diner will continue to remain open to serve the public until such statewide mandate is issued from the Governor of Tennessee.”
