Robert's Western World Moves Toward Adding Two Floors and a Rooftop Terrace on Broadway

The owners of Robert's Western World, one of Nashville's best-known honky-tonks, are working to expand their Broadway building with an added floor, a new restaurant and a private rooftop terrace.

Co-owner Emily Ann Jones told the Nashville Post, a sister publication of the Nashville Scene, that the Metro Historic Zoning Commission is expected to sign off on the changes. The commission had first turned down the request after it was submitted in December. According to Jones, the new second floor would hold a restaurant concept created by the Robert's ownership team. The third floor would contain a new kitchen, office space and the private rooftop terrace.

Jones said the owners had since had conversations with the commission over the holidays. "Based on discussions over the holidays … the Historic Zoning Commission has stated that they will provide a letter of recommendation for staff approval," she wrote in an email to the Post. "We are currently awaiting this letter."

Representatives for Robert's are still scheduled to appear before the commission at its next meeting on Jan. 15 to seek final approval, Jones added.

Documents filed with the commission show the work would involve tearing down the existing second floor and roof, then building a new second and third story. Ikon Construction, a local company, would serve as contractor, and another local firm, Paradym Studio, would be the architect.

Robert's Western World is at 416B Broadway, and the property is owned by Honky Tonk Properties LLC. The venue marked 25 years in business in 2024 and played an important part in the revival of the Lower Broadway corridor during the 1990s. Honky Tonk Properties includes Jesse Lee Jones, who co-owns the Robert's business with his wife, Emily Ann Jones, and performs in the house band Brazilbilly.

Emily Ann Jones also clarified that the future rooftop will not have a working bar. It will be used only for back-of-house operations. "Roberts will stay Roberts, and any changes would only improve or add to what we are already doing," she said.

Elsewhere on Broadway, the for-sale site of Lucky Bastard Saloon recently saw a significant price cut. In July, however, a downtown surface parking lot set a new per-foot price record with its $16.25 million sale. That mark was then apparently surpassed by the sale of the building that houses Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville Nashville.