Change Reflects the Growing Diversity of the Real Estate Development and Hospitality Company’s Ventures
Icon Entertainment Group, the owner and operator of some of Nashville’s most cherished and popular establishments, is changing its name to Icon Entertainment & Hospitality.
The rebranding reflects the growing diversity of the real estate development and hospitality company’s portfolio, which ranges from award-winning museums to legendary restaurants and bars and offers both locals and visitors alike some of Music City’s most unique dining and entertainment experiences.
The name change comes in the midst of a particularly busy and exciting year for Icon, which opened the highly-anticipated Sinatra Bar & Lounge in April and recently announced the opening of the Southern Turf Lofts, offering a prestigious, one-of-a-kind short term rental experience in the famed, Icon-owned Southern Turf Building. Later this year, the company will launch both the Southern Turf Club in the Southern Turf Building and its new East Nashville neighborhood bar, as well as commemorate the historic 75th anniversary of Skull’s Rainbow Room.
Icon was founded by celebrated entrepreneur and real estate investor Bill Miller, and it was his longtime personal relationship with Johnny Cash — which began 50 years ago this year — that spurred the creation of Icon’s first Nashville establishment, the Johnny Cash Museum. This year marks the museum’s 10th anniversary and in February, it was named Best Music Museum in the 2023 USA Today/10Best Readers’ Choice Travel Awards.
Since opening the Johnny Cash Museum, Icon’s Nashville presence has rapidly expanded to more than 100,000 square-feet of commercial real estate space and includes other thriving ventures like the Patsy Cline Museum, Nudie’s Honky Tonk, House of Cards, Johnny Cash’s Bar & BBQ and the Music City Threads merchandise line. Millions of patrons from around the world have visited Icon’s establishments, which have been recognized and awarded by USA Today, Forbes, Time, Rolling Stone, Condé Nast Traveler, National Geographic, Southern Living, Marie Claire, AAA, TripAdvisor and many more, and the company currently employs more than 400 individuals.
“When we opened the Johnny Cash Museum ten years ago, we never dreamed we’d be expanding that initial 5,000 square-footprint into over 100,000-square feet of commercial real estate spread over six buildings that we now own in downtown Nashville,” said Miller. “These acquisitions have allowed us to develop properties we now occupy with our own businesses exclusively. As we’ve progressed, our portfolio has become more heavily weighted to the food and beverage space, hence the name change to better define who we are today.”
More information available at: IconEntertainment.com.
About Icon Entertainment & Hospitality
Founded by celebrated entrepreneur and real estate investor Bill Miller, Icon Entertainment & Hospitality is a real estate development and hospitality company that owns and operates some of the most popular establishments in Nashville – including the Johnny Cash Museum, Sinatra Bar & Lounge, Patsy Cline Museum, Nudie’s Honky Tonk, House of Cards, Johnny Cash’s Bar & BBQ and Skull’s Rainbow Room – as well as the Southern Turf Lofts and Music City Threads merchandise line. Since opening the Johnny Cash Museum in 2013 – the first component of a presence in downtown Nashville that is now comprised of more than 100,000 square feet of commercial real estate – Icon has welcomed millions of patrons from around the world to its dining and entertainment establishments. USA Today, Forbes, Time, Rolling Stone, Condé Nast Traveler, National Geographic, Southern Living, Marie Claire, AAA and TripAdvisor are just a few of the outlets and organizations that have honored and awarded Icon’s establishments with distinction, solidifying their status as “must-visit” Music City attractions and dining experiences.
