GARTH BROOKS’ DOWNTOWN NASHVILLE BAR IS COMING SOON!
Nashville’s Lower Broadway is home to bars and music venues galore, many of which are owned by some of country music’s biggest stars. Alan Jackson, Kid Rock, Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley and John Rich are just a few of the names you’ll see on downtown Music City establishments. Soon a new name will be added to the Nashville bar scene…..Garth Brooks.
As one of the world’s best-selling artists and one of the biggest names in country music history, it’s a wonder Garth has waited so long to put his mark on downtown Nashville. It can only be assumed that the “Ain’t Goin’ Down” singer wanted to do it slow and do it right…one of the many traits that led him to become the industry giant that he is.
There are a lot of unknowns about Garth’s new establishment, but below is a list of everything the singer has shared about his new business venture so far. (Updated October 13, 2023)
1. WHAT IS THE NAME OF GARTH BROOKS’ NEW BAR?
It should come as no surprise that Garth Brooks chose to give a nod to one of his biggest hits by calling it Friends in Low Places Bar & Honky-Tonk.
“Friends in Low Places” was the lead single from Garth’s album No Fences, and earned him ACM and CMA awards for Single of the Year in 1990. It became one of Brooks’ most beloved and recognizable songs.
2. WHERE IS THE FRIENDS IN LOW PLACES BAR & HONKY-TONK LOCATED?
Garth’s new bar will be located at 411 Broadway in downtown Nashville. It is nestled between Nudie’s Honky-Tonk and where the historic Ernest Tubb Record Shop was once located. Friends in Low Places is just a couple of doors down from Alan Jackson’s AJ’s Good Time Bar and across the street from Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge.
3. WHAT WAS LOCATED AT 411 BROADWAY PRIOR TO GARTH’S BAR?
The Downtown Sporting Club was in operation until it sold in late 2021 to a then-undisclosed buyer. Prior to the sale, Downtown Sporting Club operated as a restaurant, coffee shop, sports bar with axe throwing, hotel and garden rooftop.
The property reportedly sold for $47.9 million, nearly $20 million more than the previous owners purchased it for in 2017.
4. WHAT MAKES GARTH BROOKS’ BAR DIFFERENT FROM THE REST?
Not only will Friends in Low Places Bar & Honky-Tonk be a place where customers can eat, drink, dance and be treated to some top-notch entertainment, but it’s a place where customers can feel safe in every way.
To guarantee this, Brooks partnered with Metro Nashville to build a new Metro Nashville Police Department substation and Nashville Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure traffic control room in the alley of his new property. Brooks is footing the bill for the entire project, guaranteeing no cost to taxpayers. The partnership will help amplify downtown’s security and reduce traffic congestion on Nashville’s busiest street.
Garth has also made it clear that his bar will be a classic honky-tonk where everyone feels welcome and safe.
“The main thing people care about when they go into a bar is the people,” Brooks said. “My main push, from day one, is that they are sweet people. They are nice people. It’s a house of love and a house you are safe in.”
“I want the Chick-fil-A of honky-tonks,” Brooks added. “I want a place where you go, where you feel good, feel safe and everybody’s got good manners.”
5. HOW LONG HAS THIS PROJECT BEEN IN THE WORKS?
Friends in Low Places Bar is a project that has been on Garth Brooks’ mind for awhile. During a press conference in July 2020, Garth Brooks was put on the spot when a reporter asked if an “actual Garth Brooks dive bar on Broadway” was on his bucket list.
Unsure if it was time to make that announcement, Brooks replied by saying, “If you’re betting, kind of bet toward it happening.”
Garth stated that fans could start looking for a Garth-themed establishment in two or three years from the date of the press conference. He even hinted at the bar’s name, saying, “Come on man, when you talk about Broadway, that is Friends in Low Places right there. It’s the perfect place.”
In late 2021, he acquired the three-story, 40,000-square-foot property that would become Friends in Low Places Bar & Honky-Tonk.
6. WHEN WILL FRIENDS IN LOW PLACES OPEN?
In June 2022, an “Opening Soon” announcement was posted to the bar’s social media pages. The post gave fans high hopes that they would be dining and drinking there in a few short months. More than a year later, the venue finally has a grand opening date!
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On Friday, November 24, Garth will open the doors of his long-awaited Nashville venue and treat fans to a concert to celebrate.
“How do you open a Friends in Low Places bar??? With a Garth concert! This is going to be off the chain. Black Friday, brand new bar, in the home of Country Music…Hollywood couldn’t write a better script. I can NOT wait!” Garth said in a press statement.
It will be the first time fans have had a chance to see the finished establishment, although the artist shared a tiny glimpse inside this summer. At the end of July, photos showed Garth Brooks giving Metro Nashville Police Chief John Drake a tour of the honky-tonk. The photos were the first seen inside the new space and it was very much still under construction at the time.
Chief Drake today joined @garthbrooks for a great walk through of his Friends in Low Places Bar under construction at 411 Broadway. As part of the renovation, Garth is providing the MNPD a substation in a building adjacent to his. We are so proud of this partnership! pic.twitter.com/HKE3Plyfhj
— Metro Nashville PD (@MNPDNashville) July 27, 2023
7. WHAT WILL BE SERVED AT FRIENDS IN LOW PLACES BAR & HONKY-TONK?
Garth and his team have been quiet about what patrons can expect in regards to a menu. It’s safe to say that everyone is hoping that the food menu will include some offerings from Garth’s wife, Trisha Yearwood.
It’s unclear if patrons will get to enjoy Trisha’s home cooking, but there’s one thing Garth has promised….every brand of beer. In a recent press conference, the singer made it clear that visitor’s will be able to find all of their favorite beverages. The decision was met with backlash due to controversy surrounding beer brands, but it’s a smart move for the new bar owner as visitors know that what they want to drink can be found at Friends in Low Places.
8. WHERE CAN YOU BUY MERCH?
Those who can’t wait to visit Garth’s new bar for a drink can stop in for some awesome merch. The Friends in Low Places retail store is open at 411 Broadway. In addition to FILP gear, the store also carries Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood officially licensed merchandise.
For those not traveling to Nashville, FILP merch can be purchased online HERE.
9. HOW CAN YOU ATTEND THE GRAND OPENING?
Tickets to the grand opening Dive Bar concert are only available by listening to The BIG 615. Brooks will be giving away tickets to lucky listeners on the air. Fans can find The BIG 615 on Garth’s new SEVENS Radio Network on streaming platform TuneIn.