Eric Church Opens Chief’s
Eric Church performs during his “To Beat The Devil” Residency in celebration of Chief’s grand opening. Photo: Anthony D’Angio
After three years of anticipation, Eric Church and AJ Capital Partners’ Founder and CEO Ben Weprin have opened their six-story bar, music venue and restaurant, Chief’s.
Chief’s. Photo: Wade Hall Photography, Courtesy of Chief’s
The historic building at 200 Broadway is an incredibly-detailed and thoughtfully-decorated homage to Church and his music. In addition to tons of memorabilia from the Chief himself’s career—like an entire floor plastered in concert posters and plenty of photos highlighting his history—there is so much evidence of the people, places and things that inspire the country icon. The stairwell is painted in Tar Heel blue in honor of his home team. The windows are adorned in stained glass art depicting his musical heroes. There are song lyrics, inside jokes and love letters to his fans—the Church Choir—everywhere.
Each floor has its own soul. The first floor, with its more than 4,000 concert posters covering every surface, includes a stage and DJ booth and is called Chief’s Tavern. Floor two, the Friendly Shadows Dueling Piano Bar, maintains a swankier vibe.
The venue taps into Church’s Carolina roots in partnership with Rodney Scott, whose Whole Hog BBQ—part of the Pihakis Restaurant Group—occupies the fifth and sixth floors, overlooking downtown with its “Hell of a Q” rooftop location.
Chief’s. Photo: Wade Hall Photography, Courtesy of Chief’s
The heart of the building, floors three and four, make up the 400-capacity Neon Steeple performance space, where you’re able to watch a performance from floor three’s dance floor or floor four’s dark, wooden church pews. This is the main space that Church intends to showcase artists and music he believes in.
“When I came to Nashville in search of a place to play my songs, nowhere on this strip would have me. I went to Fiddle & Steel in Printers Alley and found my tribe,” Church shared about the original neon sign that illuminates the theater balcony. “So, when we started building this, it was designed to be a place to bring original music back to the heart of historic Broadway.”
On opening weekend of Chief’s, Church gave his first of 19 residency shows. In a journey chronicling his life and career, Church Choir members were treated to a nearly two-hour set just for them.
Eric Church performs during his “To Beat The Devil” Residency in celebration of Chief’s grand opening. Photo: John Shearer for Getty Images
“I wanted a place I play songs that didn’t make albums—and this is the only place I’ll do a lot of these songs and share a lot of these stories. It’s a conversation in a place only for the people there,” he says.
Chief’s also houses a studio for broadcasting, inclusive of Eric Church Outsiders Radio on SiriusXM, with the capability of hosting broadcasts by various media partners. With street-level windows, the studio provides fans from around the world with a behind-the-scenes experience with a front-row view of broadcasting in action.
Ultimately, it’s clear that every detail behind the design, execution, venue management, food and drink options and musical capabilities has been thought of. The establishment stands out on lower Broadway as an entertainment destination that will stand the test of time.
“This building is a lot like the songs I write … they’re mine until I release them, and then they’re not mine anymore, they’re yours,” shares Church.
