Photo Credit: PeterPan23 / CC by 2.0
Kid Rock’s Big Honky Tonk & Steakhouse restaurant and bar in Nashville is suing the city over COVID-19 closures. Kid Rock himself hasn’t publicly commented on the matter.
The singer’s Big Honky Tonk & Steakhouse was cited and served a liquor license suspension for recently packing in a crowd. Several other downtown Nashville restaurants and bars were closed for the same reason. Now, those bar owners are banding together to sue the City of Nashville, seeking financial compensation for the loss of business.
The lawsuit also cites a disparity between how the city treated business owners and protestors.
Local businesses were subject to strict limits and social distancing requirements. The lawsuit says Nashville has allowed tens of thousands of protestors to run rampant.
“When confronted with the clear disparity in how government officials were treating restaurants/bars compared to individuals in protests, both Mayor Cooper and Director Caldwell basically said these individuals have the right to assemble under the First Amendment peacefully,” the lawsuit says.
The Kid Rock hangout received a five-day liquor license suspension after it packed in thirsty customers. The suspension shut down the business for five days. The owner, Stephen Smith, says Nashville is unfairly targeting business owners by selectively enforcing public safety measures.
Per the lawsuit: “Facts have developed which demonstrate that [the City of Nashville] indeed is targeting restaurants and bars, especially live music venues in and about Broadway.” The lawsuit further claims that Nashville Metro officials “are not being guided by science, but by political expediency.”
The lawsuit was filed on May 18th by Geoffrey Reid, who owns The Local Spot. The suit named Governor Bill Lee, Mayor John Cooper, state attorney general Herbert Slatery and Nashville health director Dr. Michael Caldwell as defendants. Attorney Kirk Clements is representing the case for the plaintiffs.
The Kid Rock lawsuit comes amidst a rapid increase of COVID-19 cases in Nashville.
Just yesterday, the Tennessee Department of Health reported 2,125 new cases. That’s a 5% day-to-day increase since last Saturday. TDH also confirmed eight more deaths, bringing the total COVID-19 death count in Tennessee to 592 deaths.
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed an executive order to extend the State of Emergency to August 29th. Now the Metro Public Board of Health is moving to enforce a new mandatory mask requirement in the city. The new public health order went into effect on June 29th. Anyone found in violation of the order may be cited with a Class C misdemeanor – which goes into effect on July 3rd.
Meanwhile, Tootsies Orchid Lounge temporarily closed on Monday to re-sanitize the building. The move comes as isolated COVID-19 cases were discovered in downtown Nashville.
7 bartenders who have Covid work at Steve Smith’s bar Tootsies. However, he wants to sue the city. Meanwhile, he made his Tootsies staff protest the city to open the bars. Even though the staff didn’t want to go back to work because of the virus they were left with no choice. Do it or lose your shifts. A real champion of broadway.
Personal responsibility reigns supreme when it comes to blame. Individuals have choices when it comes to wearing masks. Those who don’t choose wisely could make everyone pay dearly.