Nashville's Metro Historic Zoning Commission has filed a suit against Ryman Hospitality, the parent company of the Blake Shelton-themed Ole Red venue, over the venue's use of red lights on its exterior.
The Tennessean reports that Nashville's Historic Zoning Commission passed a policy in 2017 banning colored exterior lights in historic districts. The commission filed the suit on Feb. 4. In the filing, the commission claims that the venue was only approved for white lighting on the exterior.
Ole Red's permit states that "Lighting should be concealed or simple and unobtrusive in design, materials, and relationship to other facade or elevation elements."
Downtown Nashville businesses have clashed in the past with the commission.
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The honky tonk was opened in 2018. The venue is named for Shelton's 2001 single "Ole Red." While Shelton himself is not the owner of the property, his brand is heavily associated with the venue.
Ole Red's parent company Ryman Hospitality owns the Grand Ole Opry and the Ryman Auditorium.
The first Ole Red location was opened in Shelton's hometown of Tishomingo, Okla. A new location is planned to open in Gatlinburg, Tenn.
Alan Jackson, Dierks Bentley, John Rich and Florida Georgia Line have all launched entertainment venues in downtown Nashville in the last few years, adding to Music City's already tourist-friendly reputation.
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