Over the weekend, multiple popular restaurants on Nashville’s famed Broadway strip temporarily shut down their kitchens during peak hours to avoid Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids. The establishments affected include Honky Tonk Central, The Diner, and Kid Rock’s Big Ass Honky Tonk Rock N’ Roll Steakhouse all owned by Steve Smith, a well-known conservative restaurateur and vocal supporter of President Donald Trump.
According to insiders, managers instructed employees without legal immigration status to leave the premises Saturday night, just as the downtown area was bustling with crowds leaving major events at venues like the Ryman Auditorium and Ascend Amphitheater. The sudden absence of these workers left kitchens critically understaffed, forcing the restaurants to reduce service and disappoint customers during one of the busiest nights on Broadway.
“We were already understaffed because of ICE raids throughout the weekend,” an anonymous employee said. “Around 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, the manager told anyone without legal status to go home immediately. Events had just let out, and it was packed, but there was nobody left in the kitchen to cook.”
Steve Smith’s business empire includes some of Nashville’s most iconic nightlife spots, including Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge and Rippy’s. Despite Smith’s outspoken conservative views, particularly his opposition to COVID-19 restrictions on public gatherings, the weekend’s events reveal a harsh reality: his restaurants and bars heavily rely on immigrant workers, many without proper authorization to work in the U.S.
The raids were part of a larger crackdown that has seen Nashville law enforcement and ICE agents increase their activity in recent weeks. Since May 3, coordinated operations by state troopers and ICE vehicles have conducted frequent traffic stops and immigration enforcement actions, leading to at least 196 arrests in the South Nashville area alone. Disturbingly, a majority of those detained had no criminal history, contradicting claims from the Trump administration that ICE’s focus is primarily on violent criminals.
Among those arrested, only four individuals had any record of violent crime, while the rest were either undocumented immigrants or had minor offenses. The Department of Homeland Security’s press release further confirmed this discrepancy.
These enforcement actions have sparked widespread backlash across Nashville. Community organizations, immigrant advocates, and local officials, including the city’s mayor and Metro council members, have condemned the raids as heavy-handed and harmful to families and workers who contribute to the city’s economy.
Wally Dietz, lead Metro attorney, told reporters the city is essentially powerless to halt immigration enforcement by federal and state authorities. “Nashville is caught in a difficult spot, with little legal ability to protect its immigrant community from these aggressive raids,” Dietz said.
The weekend’s kitchen shutdowns highlight the unintended consequences of these raids. Employees fearing detention have called out of work or left early, prompting some managers to arrange special transportation to help immigrant workers avoid being caught in transit. This has led to service slowdowns and strained operations at some of Broadway’s busiest venues.
The situation also raises questions about the political and economic contradictions in Nashville’s nightlife scene, where a prominent conservative business owner benefits from the labor of immigrant workers who face constant legal threats. It reflects a broader national debate about immigration enforcement policies under the Trump administration and their impact on communities, businesses, and families.
As ICE continues its intensified enforcement actions, the people behind Nashville’s nightlife from bar owners to kitchen staff must navigate the challenges of operating in an environment marked by fear, uncertainty, and political conflict.
Source: Nashvillescene
