Blake Shelton’s Old Red Nashville Bar Sees Red
One of Nashville’s most popular bar destinations, Blake’s Shelton’s Ole Red, is getting in some trouble for showing red lights at night.
According to The Tennessean, Ryman Hospitality, which owns Ole Red, is facing a lawsuit by the Metro Historic Zoning Commission, over the company’s decision to cover the outer walls of Ole Red with red light at night. The policy reads in part, “Lighting should be concealed or simple and unobtrusive in design, materials, and relationship to other facade or elevation elements.”
Ryman announced plans for Ole Red in 2017 and the company said it planned to invest $20 million in the building. The building was constructed in 1926 and is valued at $22.4 million today.
Two years ago, the city proposed historic design guidelines for the lower Broadway district. While business owners supported some of the proposed guidelines, they criticized others, including the exterior lighting proposal, and the issue ultimately was put on the back-burner.
Shelton has a partnership with Ryman Properties for his Ole Red venues, which also has one in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, as well as his hometown of Tishomingo, Oklahoma. Neither Blake or Ryman has commented on the lawsuit.
Below is a video shot when Shelton made a surprise appearance at Nashville’s Ole Red in January.
-Nancy Brooks
