Tootsie's changed Lower Broadway's tune

It's a formula that would not work in other cities, but when Nashville wanted to clean up Lower Broadway more than two decades ago, it looked to the honky-tonks to lead the way.

Metro did its part, building the old convention center on Broadway and then Bridgestone Arena. But, in 1992, there was a sea of pornography shops, peep shows and handsome old buildings sitting vacant. That's when Steve Smith bought venerable honky-tonk Tootsie's Orchid Lounge. Smith gave the bar critical repairs and restoration, and then watched as Tootsie's led the way in reforming Lower Broadway into a world- renowned tourist district.

Tootsie's turns 55 on Wednesday and will celebrate with a star-studded downtown concert featuring country artists Randy Houser, LOCASH, Chase Bryant, Trick Pony and others.

The bar has been a proving ground for future country stars for generations. But Tootsie's is crucial to Nashville for another reason — it made buying old buildings to make room for a honky-tonk a lucrative investment. Smith also owns Rippy's, Honky Tonk Central and the recently demolished Trail West building, which will make room for a steakhouse.

"Tootsie's is the mainstay," said developer Alex Marks, who was with Tower Investments when the company purchased three Lower Broadway buildings over the last decade. "Tootsie’s did it right. They cleaned it up.”

One-of-a-kind Tootsie's remains life of the party

Smith said Lower Broadway was a far cry from the tourist attraction it is today. According to the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp, 92 percent of all visitors to Nashville go downtown during their stay. But in the early '90s, Smith said there were only four other bars when he bought the decrepit building made famous by namesake owner Tootsie Bess.

Smith casts the shadow of an unlikely hero for a downtown, metropolitan business and tourist district. Rough around the edges, Smith seems like he'd be more at home in a dimly lit dive bar than a corporate boardroom.

“It was pretty slow,” Smith said. “We had Opryland out there running pretty good, and in the daytime we would get some tourists walking around there a little bit.

“At nighttime it would get just a little too dangerous for tourists. There was peep shows and prostitutes, and there was a lot of crime downtown.”

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Tootsie's purchase was 'significant'

Dave Cooley, who served as a top adviser to Mayor Phil Bredesen in the early 1990s, recalled how in the preceding years police would park a patrol car on the sidewalk at dusk and leave the lights flashing until dawn. Cooley said honky-tonks may not seem like a traditional tool to clean up a crime-ridden street, but that's what happened when Smith bought Tootsie's.

“It was significant when Tootsie’s changed hands,” Cooley said.

Smith said it wasn't a total shot in the dark when he bought the property. He knew Hard Rock Cafe was coming and that the Bredesen administration supported a new arena. He said it took more than private investment in building new honky-tonks to fix Lower Broadway, and credited the Convention and Visitors Corp. for promoting the district.

Because there aren't turnstiles, there's no way to know the actual number of visitors to the honky-tonk district each year. However, Butch Spyridon, CVC president and CEO, said the honky-tonks were key in positioning and strengthening Nashville as a destination city.

“Other cities have theme parks or beaches — we have the honky-tonks on Lower Broadway to help distinguish Nashville as the global destination it has become," Spyridon said. "They authentically represent our powerful brand and — with no cover charge — they enhance our value proposition as a destination as well. Tootsie’s leads the way, but all the honky-tonks are invaluable to our current and future success."

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Honky-tonk serves as proving ground

Smith said he is proud of the impact Tootsie's has had on economic development downtown, but he also touted the bar for its musical legacy. The bar remains a venue where future stars take the stage and superstars stop to hang out, Smith said. In particular he said Kid Rock, who lives in Nashville part-time, remains a regular there.

“Kris Kristofferson hung out there,” Smith said. “Harlan Howard was a great guy and used to hang out there all the time. Willie Nelson, of course.

“Sheryl Crow has been through there. Trick Pony got started in Tootsie’s. Randy Houser. Lee Brice, just to name a few, Jamey Johnson. Montgomery Gentry, I could go on and on.”

Approximately 70 bands are in the rotation to play at Tootsie's, Honky Tonk Central and Rippy's, the venues' entertainment director John Taylor said.

Tootsie's was a proving ground for rising country star Tyler Farr, who said he learned the art of entertaining, not just playing music, while taking the stage there.

“I cut my teeth at Tootsie's, and in that place is where I learned how to be an entertainer," Farr said. "It was the foundation on which I began my career in country music. Still a place that still holds the roots.”

Reach Nate Rau at 615-259-8094 and on Twitter @tnnaterau.

IF YOU GO

What: Tootsie's 55th birthday party

Where and when: The birthday celebration will feature live entertainment on an outdoor stage in the street in front of Tootsie's, 422 Broadway. The party will start at noon Wednesday and go into the early-morning hours of Thursday. Terri Clark will perform around 6 p.m., and there is a Nathan's hot dog eating contest at 5 p.m. Three music stages will also be in place inside Tootsie's.

Cost: Free

Performers: The lineup includes Clark, Randy Houser, LOCASH, Chase Bryant, Michael Ray, Trick Pony, Confederate Railroad, Amanda Watkins, John Stone, Scott Collier and Anthony Orio. Plus, there will be "surprise" guests performing as well. Organizers, including 95.5 NASH ICON and NASH FM103.3, say, "You never know who is going to drop by."

Details: www.tootsies.net