Kid Rock‘s downtown Nashville bar closed for a night earlier this month, reportedly to avoid a potential ICE raid.
- On May 10, Kid Rock’s Big A– Honky Tonk Rock N’ Roll Steakhouse closed at about 9:30PM.
- The Nashville Scene quotes an employee source who says a manager told anyone without legal status to go home, which ultimately cleared the kitchen.
- The business is owned by Steve Smith who, like Kid Rock, is a vocal supporter of and donor to President Donald Trump.
Related: 17 Things You Didn’t Know About Kid Rock
The Saturday night shuttering came during a particularly busy night in downtown Nashville. The weekly newspaper shares that a similar warning from management was sent at the Diner and Honky Tonk Central. Smith owns Rippy’s and Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge on Broadway, as well. All of these businesses have since resumed normal business hours.
Since taking office in January, President Trump has led a crack down on illegal immigration. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Tennessee Highway Patrol coordinated to make nearly 500 traffic stops in Nashville by May 8, with more planned for the weekend that followed (per the Nashville Banner).
Nearly 200 people were arrested during the sting, with about half having pending or previous criminal charges brought against them. Thirty-one were removed from the United States previously and re-entered illegally.
The Nashville Scene article indicates that kitchens were short staffed before the management warning, and these shortages continued through Sunday in some cases.
No government organization has publicly accused the proprietors of any downtown Nashville business of hiring an illegal immigrant, knowingly or unknowingly.
Kid Rock Donald Trump
Kid Rock hasn’t commented on the immigration sting in Nashville or how it affected employees at his namesake steakhouse. Recently he did share an update on a different issue, ticket re-selling.
Kid Rock lives in Nashville. In fact, he built a replica White House just outside of downtown.
Kid Rock Trivia: 17 STUNNING Facts, Ranked Level 1 to 100
As the levels get higher, the facts get wilder! Here are 17 things you probably didn’t know about Kid Rock, including the truth about his son, why he divorced Pam Anderson and whether or not he’s friends with Eminem.
Gallery Credit: Billy Dukes
PICTURES: See Inside Kid Rock’s Luxurious Childhood Home
Kid Rock has a rough-and-tumble image, but he didn’t exactly grow up in humble circumstances. His childhood home was a 5,660-square-foot luxury home in Michigan, situated on 5.5 acres that includes 5 bedrooms, 7 bathrooms, 5-car garage, along with a partially finished walkout and guest house. There’s also a 3 stall horse barn, regulation tennis court and inground pool. The 22-room house was renovated in 2004, and it also has a hot tub and a wet bar.
Gallery Credit: Sterling Whitaker
