JUST IN: Morgan Wallen’s Nashville Bar Sets New Grand Opening Date

Morgan Wallen’s brand-new bar, restaurant and live music concept called “This Bar & Tennessee Kitchen” will officially open in downtown Nashville’s iconic Lower Broadway district on Saturday, June 1 at 11 AM. TC Restaurant Group announced the news in the afternoon of Friday, May 31. 

“We’re thrilled to welcome our first guests on Saturday, June 1, to This Bar leading into CMA Fest,” said Grant Burlingame, vice president of operations at TC Restaurant Group. “This venue has been a labor of love for us and Morgan. His fans and music lovers alike will love the experiences they will find at This Bar. We’re proud to open its doors.” 

Why Was The Grand Opening Delayed?

Wallen’s six-story venue was originally slated to open over Memorial Day weekend, however according to a statement from the TC Restaurant Group that was obtained by Billboard, the plans were postponed.

“We’re proud of our team who has worked tirelessly to prepare Morgan Wallen’s This Bar & Tennessee Kitchen for opening. The ground-up construction of a six-story venue launching with hundreds of team members is a tremendous amount of work and a complex process.”

The statement continued, “When we open, we want This Bar to be an exceptional experience for guests. Unfortunately, the process requires more time, and we are not able to open and provide that experience this Memorial Day weekend. Rest assured it will be well worth the wait. We look forward to welcoming guests soon.”

While the exact reasoning behind the delay of the grand opening was not shared, a source informed the outlet that it was unrelated to the Nashville Metro Council’s recent decision to deny approval for the bar’s external sign.

On Tuesday, May 21, 30 Metro Nashville councilmembers voted against plans for a 20-foot external sign to attach onto the outside of the six-story building. It was deemed an “aerial encroachment” that would extend over the sidewalk, which is considered city property. At the time of the meeting, several members explained that their decision to vote “no” was swayed by some of the country star’s past behavior and incidents that have taken place in Nashville. 

Councilwoman Delishia Porterfield specifically mentioned his use of a racial slur in January 2021 as well as his recent arrest for allegedly throwing a chair off the rooftop of Eric Church’s brand-new Chief’s bar.

“We want to make sure that Nashville was a supportive place for everyone, so I don’t want to see a billboard with the name of a person who’s throwing chairs off of balconies and who is saying racial slurs, using the n-word, so I’m voting no,” she said.

Despite the bump in the road, TC Restaurant Group, the organization that teamed with Wallen, is excited to welcome fans to This Bar & Tennessee Kitchen this weekend. 

“Morgan Wallen is one of the most sought after stars in the music industry, and we are thrilled that he has trusted us to deliver a concept that will bring him closer to his fans, hold fast to his roots and enshrine his name among an exclusive group of artists who can claim international stardom with a Lower Broadway destination fans all over the world seek out,” said Adam Hesler, President at TC Restaurant Group.

This Bar is situated on 4th Avenue, near the iconic Ryman Auditorium and just steps away from the bustling strip of neon lights on Broadway. The venue will be approximately 30,000 square feet and feature three live music stages, six bars and an open-air rooftop. 

Once inside, customers will be greeted with a slew of memorabilia and décor that celebrates Wallen’s journey from growing up in East Tennessee to prominent moments in his career. The name of the bar specifically highlights his record-breaking project, Dangerous: The Double Album as it was named after the track, “This Bar.” Fans will also be able to purchase exclusive Morgan Wallen merchandise in the gift shop, which will also include items that pay homage to his favorite Tennessee team.

Curated by Wallen himself and Chef Tomasz Wosiak, Vice President of Culinary Development for TC Restaurant Group, the menu will feature southern delectables, bar bites, Tennessee favorites, and some recipes from his own mom, Lesli Wallen.

Fans should keep an eye on the bar’s official social media accounts (@mwthisbar) as well as the website (www.mwthisbar.com) for updates regarding on-going hours leading into CMA Fest.