The iconic Ernest Tubb Record Shop closed in 2022 after being in business since 1947. However, it was announced earlier this year that the landmark building at 417 Broadway would be revitalized and reopened, with new plans for a four-level bar and live music venue — including a rooftop space — proposed.
The building owners are leasing to brothers Jamie Kenney and Bryan Kenney, who are heading up the project.
“Our hope is to have a honky-tonk that will pay tribute to the legacy of Ernest Tubb and the record shop,” Jamie told the Nashville Post earlier this year. “We love who Ernest Tubb was and what he meant to Nashville’s music history.”
Now, the project has received a $5.5 million permit to conduct renovations on the historical building and to add a roof and roof deck, according to reporting by the Nashville Business Journal.
While details remain scant, there was a brief update offered on the Ernest Tubb Record Shop Instagram page in July indicating that the new bar space will retain elements of the Ernest Tubb Record Shop.
“We’re happy to announce that Ernest Tubb Record Shop is here to stay! We’ll be undergoing some renovations as we work to preserve and expand the Ernest Tubb legacy with the help of his grandson, Dale Tubb,” the announcement reads.
The Kenneys have yet to announce an opening date for the long-awaited venue. However, in light of the new permit, it appears that significant renovations are still needed prior to opening.
The Kenneys are also involved in other hospitality ventures around the Nashville area, including Never Never — a Wedgewood-Houston bar — and the Reunion Bar and Hotel in East Nashville.
