Tootsie's Orchid Lounge Has Been a Broadway Fixture Since 1960

Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge stands as a Lower Broadway fixture, drawing visitors just steps from the Ryman Auditorium since 1960.

Every visitor to Nashville eventually finds the bright purple building at 422 Broadway. The venue operates live music on three stages daily from late morning into the early hours.

The Accidental Purple Paint of 1960

Hattie Louise “Tootsie” Bess purchased the establishment originally named Mom’s in 1960. According to legend, a painter mistakenly coated the exterior in bright orchid purple rather than the requested shade. Bess embraced the color, which remains unchanged today.

Bess earned affection by supporting struggling artists. She frequently ran tabs for songwriters facing financial hardship and kept their IOUs tucked inside a cigar box behind the bar.

Bess managed the lounge until her death in 1978. Her spirit continues to shape the atmosphere of the venue.

Nashville tn usa march tootsie s orchid lounge historic bar located lower broadway behind famous ryman auditorium

Country Music Legends Visited and Stayed at Tootsie's

During the era when the Grand Ole Opry broadcast from the Ryman Auditorium until 1974, performers frequently slipped out the back door between sets to visit Tootsie’s. Willie Nelson composed and pitched early songs inside the establishment, and Bess let him live upstairs for a time.

Regular patrons included Kris Kristofferson, Patsy Cline, Waylon Jennings, and Faron Young. Loretta Lynn recalled her husband waiting at the lounge during her performances next door, and scenes from her biopic, Coal Miner’s Daughter, were filmed inside the venue.

Today, the Wall of Fame features snapshots covering nearly every interior surface. The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum honored the lounge with a photo exhibit in 2011.