Morgan Wallen's Nashville bar opening delayed: What to know (2024)

Morgan Wallen's Nashville bar will not open Memorial Day Weekend as previously announced, according to a statement provided by a representative of TC Restaurant Group, the hospitality company behind the bar and restaurant.

"We’re proud of our team who has worked tirelessly to prepare Morgan Wallen’s This Bar & Tennessee Kitchen for opening," the statement said. "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."

Why was the opening of Morgan Wallen's 'This Bar' delayed?

The statement did not cite a specific reason for the delay, but said the opening process requires more time.

"When we open, we want This Bar to be an exceptional experience for guests," the statement continued. "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.”

Announced in February, Wallen's bar is the latest celebrity endorsed bar to line the streets of Music City's Honky Tonk Highway, joining fellow country music stars like Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean and Miranda Lambert. According to a news release, the venue is a collaboration between Wallen and TC Restaurant Group, the same company behind some of Lower Broadway's most bustling venues including "Luke's 32 Bridge," "Jason Aldean's Kitchen and Rooftop Bar," and Lainey Wilson's upcoming "Bell Bottoms Up" bar.

Delay comes after Metro Nashville Council denies sign permit

Earlier this week, Metro Council denied an aerial encroachment permit for a 20-foot sign advertising the venue, citing Wallen'spast use of a racial slurandpending felony and misdemeanor charges.

"I don't want to see a billboard up with the name of a person who's throwing chairs off of balconies and who is saying racial slurs," At-large Council member Delishia Porterfield said Tuesday.

Back in April, Wallen was arrested after being accused of throwing a chair from Chief's on Broadway. Wallen was charged with three counts of reckless endangerment and one count of disorderly conduct. Porterfield also cited Wallen's use of a racial slur, captured on video in 2021.

It is unclear when the bar will open.

What is the name of Morgan Wallen's bar?

Wallen's bar is named "This Bar and Tennessee Restaurant" in honor of his 2019 song of the same title in which he sings about getting older and discovering himself.

"I found myself in this bar / Makin' mistakes and makin’ new friends / I was growin' up and nothin' made sense / Buzzin’ all night like neon in the dark / I found myself in this," he sings.

“I sing about finding myself in ‘this bar’ and now it’s coming to life," said Wallen in a news release. "This venue will hold true to everything I love and is inspired by my fans and the way they have embraced me and my music."

Where will Morgan Wallen's bar be located?

"This Bar and Tennessee Kitchen" will be located at 107 4th Avenue North in the Lower Broadway area, adjacent to the Ryman Auditorium.

What will Morgan Wallen's bar look like? What will be on the menu?

Wallen's six-story venue will be approximately 30,000 square feet and feature three live music stages, six bars and an open-air rooftop. The venue's interior will pay homage to his East Tennessee roots and include childhood photos, memorabilia and nods to some of his most memorable performances. Fans will also be able to enjoy a gift shop offering exclusive merchandise.

The menu — which was curated by Wallen with Chef Tomasz Wosiak, vice president of culinary development for TC Restaurant Group — will feature southern favorites, bar bites and some of Wallen’s own family recipes.

"We’re designing a menu around some of my family favorites, so it brings a piece of East Tennessee to Music City," he said in a news release. "I hope This Bar is a place you’ll want to find yourself in and make memories with your friends and family and celebrate the way country music has brought us all together."

Reporters Audrey Gibbs and Cassandra Stephenson contributed to this report.

Diana Leyva covers trending news and service journalism for The Tennessean. Contact her at Dleyva@gannett.com or follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, at @_leyvadiana