Tom Morales and primary partners Alan Jackson, Steve Moore, George Boedecker and Nancy Russell plan to revitalize Nashville’s Lower Broad neighborhood with the remodel and re purpose of the iconic Acme Building. The announcement was made during a press conference today (Nov. 20) in Nashville.
The remodeling will will feature three floors and a rooftop patio, each with its own unique style and special set of offerings that pay tribute to the past, present and future of Nashville. The Acme will elevate and at the same time honor the traditional Nashville “Honky Tonk” experience, providing both tourists and locals a place to eat, drink, listen to music, shop and hang out.
The revitalization of Acme will connect the downtown area with the Riverfront and welcoming visitors from the East Side via the Shelby Street Bridge. Tom and partners will keep the name, feel and basic layout of Acme the same, honoring the Acme’s place on the National Historic Register by renovating it to the required historic standards. The partners are working with Tuck-Hinton, the architects for the Music City Center, Frist Center, and Country Music Hall of Fame, and Crane Constructions for this project. Morales has also worked with Tuck-Hinton on past projects, The Southern Steak & Oyster, 408 Broadway and Loveless Café.
The first floor will provide a modern honky tonk and restaurant for locals and tourists alike, offering gourmet, fast-casual fare with live music, cocktails and local craft beer on tap. The second floor will feature an upscale bar/lounge with craft spirits and lounge seating, providing a space on Broadway where Nashville locals and upscale travelers can go socialize comfortably in the signature inviting hospitality that has made its sister restaurant, The Southern, famous. The third floor will be home to The Buggy Room, the largest one-level event and music venue on Broadway, hosting pre-programmed music series, catered events and concerts. It will be available year-round for music showcases and event rentals. The fourth floor of the Acme Building will be a rooftop patio that overlooks the entire downtown area, with direct views of Broadway and the Riverfront.
The Acme building is located at 101 Broadway (First & Broadway).

Music streaming service start-up Rdio, created by Skype co-founder Janus Friss, has laid off approximately 30-40 staff members, according to Digital Music News. This comes after an increase in paid subscribers for Rdio; the company now has more than 250,000 paying subscribers.
Prior to the layoffs, Rdio had about 130-140 employees. At least two people affected by the layoffs are engineers that focused on mobile and web apps.

Loretta Lynn was among those honored with the 2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom today (Nov. 20) by President Barack Obama. The nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom is presented to individuals who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.
This is one of my favorite events every year,” said President Obama. “This year it’s just a little more special, because this marks the 50th anniversary of President Kennedy establishing this award.”
“Loretta Lynn was 19 the first time she won big at the local fair. Her canned vegetables brought home 17 blue ribbons and made her Canner of the Year. Now that’s impressive,” said President Obama. “For a girl from Butcher Holler, Ky., that was fame. Fortunately for all of us, she decided to try her hand at things other than canning. Her first guitar cost $17 and with it, this Coal Miner’s Daughter gave coice to a generation, singing what no one wanted to talk about and saying what no one wanted to think about. Now, over 50 years after she cut her first record and canned her first vegetables, Lorretta Lynn still reigns as the rule-breaking, record-setting Queen of Country Music.”
Members of the Kennedy family were in attendance: Robert Kennedy’s widow, Ethel Kennedy, and JFK grandson and son of U.S. ambassador Caroline Kennedy, Jack Schlossberg.
More than 500 individuals have been honored with the medal. Additional recipients this year include Oprah Winfrey, Ernie Banks, Ben Bradlee, Bill Clinton, Daniel Inouye (posthumous), Daniel Kahneman, Richard Lugar, Mario Molina, Sally Ride (posthumous), Bayard Rustin (posthumous), Arturo Sandoval, Dean Smith, Gloria Steinem, Cordy Tindell “C.T.” Vivian and Patricia Wald.
The event can be viewed below; Lynn’s portion of the tribute begins at the 6:57 mark and at the 30:08 mark.

Kay Clary will be honored by the Country Music Hall of Fame at the Seventh Annual Louise Scruggs Memorial Forum Dec. 4 at the Hall of Fame’s Ford Theater.