Managers at Kid Rock’s Nashville restaurant told staff to go home on a busy Saturday night to avoid an impending raid by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials, according to local reports.
Kid Rock’s Big Ass Honky Tonk Rock N’ Roll Steakhouse was one of three establishments owned by local restaurateur — and prominent Trump donor — Steve Smith that were forced to shutter their kitchens over the weekend to dodge ICE agents.
According to the Nashville Scene, employees without work authorization were told to leave the premises during the busy Saturday night rush, bringing service to a halt.
“We were already understaffed because of the ICE raids throughout the weekend,” one restaurant employee told the outlet. “Then, around 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, our manager came back and told anyone without legal status to go home.”
According to the employee, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of retribution, that happened as music and sports events at nearby venues were ending. “It was crazy busy,” the employee said. “But there was no one in the kitchen to cook the food.”
Earlier this week, the Department of Homeland Security announced that ICE and Tennessee Highway Patrol officials had arrested 196 undocumented individuals.
Less than half of those taken into custody had criminal records, DHS officials said.
The other two restaurants owned by the conservative restaurateur that were reportedly forced to close their kitchens and interrupt the busy weekend rush were Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge and Rippy’s Honky Tonk.
It’s not clear whether Smith was informed or consulted about the managers’ decisions, employees told the Nashville Scene.
The Kid Rock-licensed steakhouse, a “gorgeous honky tonk” that can entertain up to 2,000 customers across five floors and six bars, is one of two establishments associated with the name of the high-profile MAGA musician and former “Apprentice” contestant.
Earlier this month, the “All Summer Long” singer opened an upscale seafood restaurant in the city’s downtown district called The Detroit Cowboy, which he described as “more than a dining experience; it is a celebration of two great American cities — Detroit and Nashville.”
https://www.nydailynews.com/2025/05/16/kid-rock-restaurant-ice-raid-staff-home/