Tootsie Pop

Tootsies or Tootsie's Orchid Lounge was bought and created by Hattie Louis Bess or better known as "Tootsie." During the bars creation she saw the painter who was painting her newly found bar the wild color Orchid, thus the name Tootsie's Orchid Lounge. Crazy enough, Tootsie's jumpstarted Willie Nelson's career after he was offered to become a regular artist at the bar. Another big name that was a regular over at Tootsie's miss country herself, Dolly Parton loved going to hangout at the good old orchid lounge. Tootsie's just this past weekend celebrated their 65th anniversary of being open. The bar itself is known to have the best local talent and up and comers in the industry. Hattie Bess wasn't known just for her generosity to artists but also to the people who needed help with a meal or more! Hattie would typically give money to people who needed it on the streets and she even had a box behind the bar of IOU's for free drinks and meals given out at the bar! Most of the time she wouldn't even touch the IOU's as she was just trying to be nice to her community. Instead what would happen is performers from the Grand Ole Opry would come and pay all the IOU's back so the she would not lose money, she was the essence of do good and good will return to you! Hattie Bess (Tootsie) passed away February 8, 1978 in Nashville, her home. Some famous people who attended her funeral included: Tom T. Hall, Roy Acuff, and Faron Young, three of the most famous musicians to ever step in Nashville. They were all brought up in her very own bar. Hattie Bess was buried in an orchid gown with an orchid flower and had an orchid casket. The bars color has never and will never change to honor the Great founder, Hattie Louis Bess... Tootsie.  

Having you night on Broadway should always start at Tootsie's. With the local music you could meet a future star there. Or you could go to a different floor of the building as there are 3! the base floor with the live music the middle floor to hangout inside and talk, or the rooftop floor where you can take in the entire nightlife on Broadway. The most famous drinks there include: Apple Pie Shine and the Tootsie Drink. Margaritas and beer like Bud Light are also up there. Check out the menu!

Tootsie's is more of a dive bar scene and is one of the skinnier bars on Broadway but that is part of its experience! Having the raging party and being in the middle of it at all times can be fun if you want to get rowdy. But as said earlier if that is not your scene just go up a floor! Sometimes there are big artist that will stop by like Keith Urban or Lee Brice. Safe to say those nights it will be packed so you better be lucky your there as these artist will randomly show up! This bar is definitely the best first stop in your Nashville bar crawl! 

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September 14, 2025 marked Tootsie's 65th year in business and they celebrated like a Honky Tonk! Shutting down the entire street to put up a stage outside for any person to come by and watch a free concert! Colt Ford, Jake Owens, Randy Houser, and even Ed Sheeran AND Jelly Roll surprised guests to celebrate Tootsie's! The Birthday Bash started at 11am and went all the way till 3am the next morning with many up and comers performing inside the bar while the mainstreamers were outside on the stage! Tootsie's definitely got the best birthday with thousands of fans coming in the bar to wish the old gal a happy birthday toast! Drink deals went on all day as well as food deals, it was heard that the famous Tootsie Drink sold almost 5,000 times this day!