Florida Georgia Line restaurant founded by Brian Kelley, Tyler Hubbard, permanently closes

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Florida Georgia Line fans, another venture by the "bro-country" duo has come to an end: The band's restaurant, FGL House in Nashville, has permanently closed.

But don't worry. There are plans already in place for that hot property in the Lower Broadway section of downtown Nashville.

When the Southern-style restaurant with a California flair opened in summer 2017, Florida Georgia Line bandmates Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard reflected on why they chose FGL House for Nashville, Tennessee, and not in Florida or Georgia in a Tennessean story. Said Hubbard: "It was a cool opportunity in our hometown here in Nashville that we love — a place we could call our own and gather with our friends, our family and our fans and create a cool environment where people can make great memories."

"What excites Tyler (Hubbard) and I the most is always staying creative," Kelley said in a statement to the Tennessean when FGL House opened in downtown Nashville. "We love seeing what fresh things we can come up with to take our music to a new level and turn our dreams into reality."

Here's what we know about the band and the closing of the restaurant founded by former Florida Georgia Line bandmates Tyler Hubbard of Monroe, Georgia, and Brian Kelley of Ormond Beach, Florida.

What is Florida Georgia Line?

Florida Georgia Line, consisting of bandmates Tyler Hubbard of Georgia and Brian Kelley of Florida, had a "bro-country" music style with elements of rock and hip-hop.

The band was founded in 2010 in Nashville and its debut single "Cruise" in 2012 had more than 7 million downloads and spent 24 weeks at No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart.

Did country music band Florida Georgia Line win any awards? Did Florida Georgia Line win a Grammy?

In addition to breaking records, over the years, Florida Georgia Line were recognized with wins and nominations for several Academy of Country Music Awards. The band also was nominated multiple times for "vocal duo of the year" for Country Music Association Awards during its time together.

Other notable awards include:

  • In 2018, when Florida Georgia Line was nominated for an MTV Video Music Award for Best Collaboration with Bebe Rexha

  • The band was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2019 for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for "Meant to Be."

What was Florida Georgia Line's most popular song? What are Florida Georgia Line's albums?

With more than 7 million downloads after its initial release, "Cruise" remains Florida Georgia Line's most popular song.

Florida Georgia Line produced five albums between 2012 and 2021 before each member embarked on solo careers aka "breaking up" in 2022:

  • "Anything Goes" in 2014

  • "Dig Your Roots" in 2016"

  • "Can't Say I Ain't Country" in 2019

  • "Life Rolls On" in 2021

  • Florida Georgia Line Greatest Hits in 2022

Why did Florida Georgia Line break up? What happened to country music's Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard?

Florida Georgia Line fans experienced turmoil when bandmates Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley had disagreements during the 2020 presidential election between Donald Trump and Joe Biden. Hubbard unfollowed Kelley on Instagram after Biden defeated Trump for the presidency. Hubbard supported Biden, while Kelley supported Trump.

The public reaction to the social media unfollow incident − which included their wives − led to speculation that the band would break up in January 2021. Kelley's father, Ed Kelley, told The Daytona Beach News-Journal that while Hubbard and his son Brian Kelley were working on other projects, Florida Georgia Line was committed to a Live Nation tour.

Kelley did release a solo album in June 2021 called "Sunshine State of Mind," and Tyler Hubbard released a solo song "5 Foot 9" in May 2022.

The band's last performance together was Aug. 31, 2022, at the Minnesota State Fair.

Brian Kelley released a single called "Kiss My Boots" in March 2024.

What was the Florida Georgia Line restaurant? Where was FGL House?

In a May 2017 story from the Tennessean, Florida Georgia Line announced a summer 2017 opening for its FGL House restaurant, bar and entertainment venue in downtown Nashville.

FGL House occupied a four-story, 22,000-square-foot building.

FGL House, 102 3rd Ave. South, Nashville, Tennessee, was the former site of the restaurant that boasted a "Southern style cuisine with a California flair" in the Lower Broadway area in downtown Nashville. Other famous country music stars also opened restaurants and bars there: Luke Bryan's Luke's 32 Bridge (casual home cooking), Jason Aldean's Kitchen and Rooftop Bar (Southern food), and Miranda Lambert's Casa Rosa (Tex-Mex).

What food did FGL House, Florida Georgia Line restaurant, serve? Was there live music at FGL House in Nashville?

When FGL House opened, the multi-platinum duo Florida Georgia Line joined Alan Jackson, Dierks Bentley and John Rich as country stars expanding their brands through bars and other venues on Lower Broadway in downtown Nashville.

FGL House featured live music daily and amazing views of the downtown skyline. The kitchen offered Southern-style cuisine with a California flair while bars on each of the four floors served local craft beers and mixed cocktails — many featuring the duo’s own Old Camp Whiskey.

A basement-level lounge with a baby grand piano previously offered a cocktail menu inspired by ‘90s pop culture and specialty martinis. A large video wall showcased music videos by Florida Georgia Line and other country stars along with sporting events.

What will replace FGL House, Florida Georgia Line restaurant in downtown Nashville?

Lainey Wilson performs at the 2024 CMT Music Awards at the Moody Center in Austin, Tex., Sunday night, April 7, 2024.
Lainey Wilson performs at the 2024 CMT Music Awards at the Moody Center in Austin, Tex., Sunday night, April 7, 2024.

Grammy-winning country artist Lainey Wilson announced Tuesday, May 7, that she's opening her own bar in the heart of downtown Nashville in summer 2024: Bell Bottoms Up.

“I’ve always wanted to create a destination for all my fans to visit and create new memories at, in the heart of country-music city," Wilson said in a statement. "So, to have a permanent destination in Nashville, is such a dream come true. I can’t wait for all my "Wild Horses" to get to experience my home away from home.”

Spanning 27,000-square-feet, the three-story venue will include a western disco-themed rooftop, two stages and four bars. Elements of Wilson's bar will also call back to her home state of Louisiana, including menu items like her favorite salads, crawfish, shrimp boils and boudin.

The "Heart Like a Truck" singer has been a rising star over the last few years, and now, she's cementing her place at the center of Music City. The project is in partnership with TC Restaurant Group, which also operates Luke Bryan's 32 Bridge, Jason Aldean’s Kitchen and Rooftop Bar, Miranda Lambert's Casa Rosa and Morgan Wallen’s This Bar & Tennessee Kitchen.

Wilson joins Lambert as the second female country star with a venue near the Broadway thoroughfare.

Named after Wilson's fourth studio album Bell Bottom Country, the bar will take over the space of the former FGL House, 120 S. 3rd Ave. South, Nashville, Tennessee.

The Florida Georgia Line bar, which was also a TC Restaurant Group project, remained open for almost two years following its namesake band's breakup back in 2022. Country music fans speculated about the bar's potential closure for months after the duo split, and it ultimately closed in the first week of May.

“We are honored that Lainey has trusted us to deliver a venue that is faithful to her story, fans and love for country music,” TC Restaurant Group Vice President of Operations Grant Burlingame said, in a statement. “Fans gravitate to Lainey because of her authentic, down-to-earth personality, and Bell Bottoms Up will be a representation of her character and legacy. Lainey Wilson is one of the biggest names in country music, and we’re proud to partner with her on a venue that celebrates her genuine mark on the industry and brings another female artist to the forefront of Nashville’s Entertainment District.”

Contributing: Mark Harper, Daytona Beach News-Journal, and Getahn Ward, Tennessean

Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network-Florida. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper.

Hadley Hitson covers trending business, dining and healthcare for The Tennessean. She can be reached at hhitson@gannett.com. To support her work, subscribe to The Tennessean.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: FGL House closed, Bell Bottoms Up by Lainey Wilson to replace it