Kid Rock’s Big Ass Honky Tonk Rock N’ Roll Steakhouse abruptly shut down its kitchen operations on May 10, 2025, following a wave of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in the area. The closure occurred as multiple employees failed to report to work, and others were reportedly sent home due to fears of detainment during the raids.
Clearly I do not have anything to do with day to day operations at my Honky Tonk – but it’s good click bait, I get it. That being said I 100% support getting illegal criminals out of our country no matter where they are. I also like President Trump want to speed up the process of… https://t.co/1M0dn8rhLu
— KidRock (@KidRock) May 19, 2025
The restaurant is owned by a local Nashville businessman and carries Kid Rock’s branding, although the musician himself stated he is not involved in the day-to-day management. The ICE raids reportedly targeted several restaurants and businesses across the city as part of a broader immigration enforcement campaign, resulting in nearly 200 arrests.
Kid Rock responded to the news by reaffirming his support for strict immigration enforcement. In a public statement, he distanced himself from operational decisions at the restaurant but emphasized his approval of removing undocumented immigrants with criminal records from the country.
The incident reignited debate about immigration enforcement in the hospitality industry, where undocumented labor is common. It also raised questions about how public figures like Kid Rock navigate the reputational risks of business ventures tied to politically charged issues.
The restaurant reopened later in the weekend, but the story continues to attract national attention.
