Welcome to Your Week, our exclusive newsletter for subscribers featuring some of our top stories about Nashville and beyond every Sunday. I’m Sandy Mazza, business editor at The Tennessean.
Today we bring you a comprehensive look at the $10 billion tourism industry fueled by celebrity-driven entertainment district on Nashville’s Lower Broadway. Growth and development reporter Molly Davis delved into what makes the latest iteration of celebrity-themed bars and restaurants bringing in millions of tourists each year.
The answer is simple: New honky tonks are all about bold celebrity brands. Despite years of rising property values on Broadway, the strip’s growth is expected to reach unprecedented heights in the coming years due to its growing international appeal. Visitors to Music City are increasingly coming from Canada, Ireland, Germany, and Australia.
Real estate and hospitality companies that run these establishments range from longtime Nashville businessman Bill Miller, a friend of Johnny Cash, to Big Plan Holdings launched in 2023. The street has become a critical stop for both established and emerging country music stars alike. New honky tonks bear the names of Eric Church, Morgan Wallen, Tanya Tucker, Garth Brooks, Lainey Wilson and more.
“What this demonstrates,” said Davis, “is a newfound worldwide audience for country music and an urgent demand for the celebrity bars and restaurants popping up in the area.” Your support makes it possible for us to provide in-depth reporting like this. Thank you for being a subscriber to The Tennessean.
