Ernest Tubb Record Shop Says It’s “Here To Stay” Amid Iconic Sign Removal
Well either it’s a good sign or a bad sign. But either way, one of the most iconic signs on Lower Broadway is coming down—at least temporarily—as the property that has housed the Ernest Tubb Record Shop for decades goes through renovations to (hopefully) reopen in all of its original glory, along with newer additions to make the lucrative piece of real estate sustainable into the future.
After a long-running custody dispute between the previous owners of the property and business, the Ernest Tubb Record Shop at 417 Broadway was sold to a group of investors for $18.3 million on July 29th, 2022—almost two years to the day. Those investors included Nashville-based real estate investor and former NFL player Brad Bars, Russian-born renown Nashville studio musician Ilya Toshinskiy, and Ernest Dale Tubb III, who is a businessman located in the Nashville area, as well as Ernest Tubb’s grandson.
But it seems like ever since, news about the property’s future has been scant, physical progress on the property has been slow, and it’s left folks wondering what is going on, and why it is taking so long. In February, some preservationists of the business were spooked when plans were revealed to expand the property to four stories and turn it into a bar. Instead of the new owners developing the property themselves, they’re leasing it to Tusk Brothers, which consists of brothers Jamie and Bryan Kenney.
The brothers said at the time, “Our hope is to have a honky-tonk that will pay tribute to the legacy of Ernest Tubb and the record shop. We love who Ernest Tubb was and what he meant to Nashville’s music history.” But “paying tribute” to the Record Shop and actually opening one on the same property are two separate things. The fate of the Record Shop’s iconic sign has been something of special interest to preservationists.
For the record, thanks to historic covenants protecting the structure itself, the building cannot be torn down. It can be added to and renovated though, which is what the Tusk Brothers intend to do.
On Wednesday (7-24), the official Ernest Tubb Instagram page posted,
Good News! 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. You may notice our beloved sign coming down soon, but fear not! It’s only a temporary measure to protect it during renovations, and we’re coordinating with the Nashville Historic Commission to make sure it will be restored to its original beauty in no time! We’ll be open again for business soon, so stay tuned for updates…
Saving Country Music reached out to the Nashville Historic Commission Executive Director Tim Walker, who says, “The owners are taking the sign down while they do façade restoration work. They have told us they intend to return the sign to the front façade, raised about one foot. They have not asking about changing it beyond this.”
The point of the Record Shop’s current owners putting out the positive message is to not spook the public and preservationists when the historic sign disappears. But the future remains uncertain about just exactly what will end up occupying the former Ernest Tubb Record Shop property.
Saving Country music also reached out to Jamie Kenney of Tusk Brothers for comment, but he did not respond by the time of this article.
July 25, 2024 @ 11:13 pm
With all the drunkenness shenanigans down there idk it’s just not right for women to be topless with Broadway being Tubb’less.
July 26, 2024 @ 4:28 am
Sustainable, what does that mean? Solar panels and a pride flag?
July 26, 2024 @ 6:45 am
That means that the business will be able to sustain indefinitely as a profitable enterprise so it (hopefully) never goes away.
July 26, 2024 @ 12:18 pm
Like the WNBA..
July 26, 2024 @ 12:49 pm
If you’re politically triggered by the term “sustainable,” the problem is you.
July 26, 2024 @ 7:06 pm
It was a joke.
July 26, 2024 @ 7:08 pm
It wasn’t even a political joke. It was poking fun at how a traditional country music-based record store has the profit disparity on Broadway compared to the other bars on Broadway like the WNBA does to the NBA. (the WNBA has lost money every year. It’s subsidized by the NBA)
Now that I explained the joke (which makes it funnier *sarcasm) you can feel free to laugh
July 26, 2024 @ 3:20 pm
Here’s hoping, if only for Ernie’s name to stay visible on Broadway. The old record store, well, no harm in spicing it up a bit.
July 26, 2024 @ 5:56 am
Too many exclamation points in the post which makes it seem kinda suspicious, so I’m not holding my breath. Nashville’s movers and shakers are not too keen on preserving the past.
$10 says the sign’s going to end up in the CMHoF.
July 26, 2024 @ 6:50 am
I hate to agree, but the enthusiasm of their post also made me suspicious. That is why I checked with the Historical Commission to get their perspective. I do hope the sign goes back up, and I can understand them removing it (it’s already been removed, btw) to do whatever work they need to do. But I think folks who’ve been worrying over this whole process are smart to remain vigilant as it moves forward.
I want this property to improve. I think they need to have a bar and a robust business here to survive. I also think if you have four stories at this location, one of them could be a profitable record store.
July 26, 2024 @ 6:38 am
My guess is that the sign will end up inside the building, perhaps behind the bar.
July 26, 2024 @ 7:10 am
If the sIgn doesn’t go back up, give it to Marty Stuart; he’ll take care of it.
July 26, 2024 @ 11:09 pm
They’re tearing down the Mirage Hotel Casino in Las Vegas and people will get over that.
My guess is they’ll tear down this building, and people will get over that, too.
July 27, 2024 @ 1:45 pm
Its Crazy that 18 Million dollars and 2 years later the building has been vacant ouch that got to sting
July 30, 2024 @ 1:45 pm
I don’t understand how one can buy a building for $18,000,000 then let it sit empty for 2 years!
April 8, 2025 @ 11:10 am
Paul – do you mean 3 years??
February 28, 2025 @ 9:25 am
when does the earnest tubb shop reopen this year
April 8, 2025 @ 11:22 am
I’d be shocked if it opens this year – not sure what is going on.
This is part of the same group – Brad Bars – that lost a fortune with some deals and had their property end up in foreclosure.
It worries me that this could happen here – https://www.nashvillepost.com/business/development/year-s-end-start-eyed-for-midtown-project/article_1cd3adf2-fb48-11ed-94d5-b7382bf66536.html This was in the paper for years with all sorts of grand plans and ended up going to auction with the lender. I really hate this is looking that way.