A landmark at the heart of Country music is planning to build a new branch in the heart of the big city.
Ryman Hospitality, the company that runs the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, TN, has confirmed plans to open a four-story $8 million country-themed entertainment complex at 1604 Broadway, according to the Nashville Tennesseean. The site is located on the east side of Broadway between West 48th and 49th streets, just north of Times Square, between the spaces now occupied by M&M’s World and Sbarro’s. The plan was first discussed in May 2016.
Called Opry City Stage, the new attraction is designed to be the Grand Ole Opry’s “home away from home,” featuring a restaurant, two-story bar, live performances, a “world-class listening room” for guests to hear curated performances from the Opry’s Bluebird Cafe, and a private event space. Film clips of new and classic performances from the Grand Ole Opry will be screened throughout the venue.
Opry City Stage could open as early as spring 2017.
The idea, according to CEO Colin Reed, is to stimulate tourism to Nashville. "We believe that once our Opry City Stage guests get a taste for all Nashville has to offer," Reed said in a press release, "they are going to want to visit Music City [Nashville] and experience it for themselves."
The space, which has been untenanted for many months, was formerly home of the Spotlight Live Club, which attained notoriety in 2008 when a woman was killed at a birthday party for rapper Lil’ Kim.
