Nashville Bigwig Ryman Hospitality is Planning a Country Restaurant for Times Square

Nashville-based hotel, media, and investment company Ryman Hospitality is bringing a country music restaurant to Times Square. According to The Tennessean, the restaurant seeks to pay homage to the Grand Ole Opry, a 90-year-old concert institution founded in the Music City. The restaurant, which will also feature a music venue and bar, is an effort further the entertainment, media, and content components for Ryman, which is primarily a real estate investment trust but also co-produces TV show "Nashville," a popular primetime drama following country music stars.

"There’s no doubt that Nashville and the Grand Ole Opry are the homes of country music, but the genre’s incredible growth and mainstream appeal means that there are now lovers of country music all over the world," Ryman Chairman and CEO Colin Reed tells the Tennessean. "This venue will bring to Times Square and its nearly 40 million annual global visitors a rich country music heritage and an opportunity to experience the unique country music lifestyle." No word yet on a name or opening date for the restaurant.