NASHVILLE, Tenn. (October 17, 2023) — Bill Miller, the visionary Founder and CEO of Icon Entertainment & Hospitality, continues to earn his well-deserved spot on the annual Power 100 list, a prestigious accolade by the Nashville Business Journal. Renowned as a true trendsetter in the vibrant heart of Nashville, Miller’s accolade is a testament to his outstanding contributions to the city’s cultural landscape. He’s celebrated for his ownership and management of iconic establishments that have become landmarks in downtown Nashville, such as the Johnny Cash Museum, House of Cards, Skull’s Rainbow Room, the Patsy Cline Museum, Johnny Cash’s Bar & BBQ, Nudie’s Honky Tonk and more.
Bill Miller has played an instrumental role in fostering and launching Nashville’s thriving entertainment scene, and 2023 has marked a monumental year for Icon Entertainment & Hospitality. The company has added four remarkable businesses to its impressive portfolio: Sinatra Bar & Lounge in an exciting partnership with Frank Sinatra Enterprises, the Southern Turf Lofts, the imminent opening of the Southern Turf Club (scheduled for October 25) and a noteworthy expansion beyond downtown Nashville with the opening of Schulman’s, East Nashville’s newest neighborhood bar.
In this exciting year of new business ventures, Icon also had the privilege of celebrating some significant milestones. Skull’s Rainbow Room marked its 75th anniversary, coinciding with the 10th anniversary of the Johnny Cash Museum, which witnessed record attendance figures. Additionally, it’s worth noting that this year holds a special place in history as it marks the 50th anniversary of Bill and Johnny Cash’s first meeting, the friendship that started everything.
Miller expressed his gratitude, saying, “I’m gratified to be recognized by NBJ again for this distinction. I have to tip my hat to all our staff members at each of our businesses for helping to make Icon one of the region’s leading hospitality companies.”
The Nashville Business Journal’s Power 100 list for 2023 features the city’s 100 most influential and powerful figures in the business community. Within this esteemed list, the Trendsetter category stands out, recognizing individuals who have ushered in new, creative ideas that have been instrumental in shaping Nashville into the vibrant metropolis it is today.
About Bill Miller
Bill Miller’s passion for music and history combined with his longtime friendship with the legendary Johnny Cash set the foundation for Miller’s latest chapter as one of Nashville’s most successful and visionary entrepreneurs. The California native’s potent combination of intuition and acumen fuel such thriving Nashville ventures as the Johnny Cash Museum, Nudie’s Honky Tonk, House of Cards and more. In 2023, Miller has brought Rat Pack era charm to Music City’s legendary Printers Alley with Sinatra Bar & Lounge, The Southern Turf Lofts, and the Southern Turf Club to the landmark Southern Turf building, which is also home to Miller’s popular nightspot Skull’s Rainbow Room. He also most recently expanded to East Nashville with the opening of Schulman’s. “If I looked back and somebody had told me, you’re going to own numerous bars, restaurants and museums in downtown Nashville, I literally would have laughed because it’s nothing that we’ve had any training to do. It’s simply been shooting from the hip and creating compelling concepts,” says Miller, who currently calls Music City home. Indeed, Miller has come a long way from his rural California roots where he founded a real estate company and served three times as mayor of his hometown before launching the Odyssey Group, one of the largest dealers of historical documents and memorabilia in the country, selling everything from handwritten letters by George Washington to George Harrison’s Telecaster. It was his friendship with Cash that led him to Nashville. “I’m so grateful and feel so blessed because I don’t think I could have a better life than I do and it has to do with family and being able to expose people to experiences that are really fun and compelling,” Miller says. “I believe in destiny. I believe in God. I believe in God’s plan and unbeknownst to me, I think God’s plan was to have us do this.”
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. Icon’s newest ventures include the Southern Turf Club and East Nashville neighborhood bar Schulman’s. 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.
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