Kid Rock’s popular Nashville restaurant, Big Ass Honky Tonk Rock N’ Roll Steakhouse, hit pause on service during a packed Saturday night, because management feared an ICE raid. According to reports, managers told staff without legal documentation to leave immediately, just as crowds from local music and sports events started pouring in.
The steakhouse isn’t alone. Two other buzzing bars, Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge and Rippy’s Honky Tonk, also shut down their kitchens. All three are owned by local business figure and known Trump supporter Steve Smith.
Employees told the Nashville Scene the restaurant was already short-staffed due to ongoing immigration sweeps across Tennessee. Around 9:30 p.m., during peak business hours, managers at Kid Rock’s bar reportedly advised undocumented staff to head out, leaving the kitchen empty and the dining rush hanging.
This sudden shutdown came as Homeland Security confirmed nearly 200 people were arrested in a multi-agency effort involving ICE and the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
While it’s unclear if Smith himself gave the directive, his bars took no chances. With kitchens closed, menus scrapped, and customers left waiting, the night didn’t end with a bang, but with silence behind the grill.
