A restraining order filed by several Nashville bar owners, including The Local Spot, Kid Rock’s Honky Tonk, Harry O’s Steakhouse, Honky Tonk Central and others, has been denied. The restraining order was filed after several downtown businesses, including Kid Rock’s Honky Tonk, were cited for not following Metro Health guidelines surrounding COVID-19.

“What we’re asking is that the limited-service restaurants, that is the bar that sells less than 50 percent food be treated the same as full-service restaurants here in Nashville,” attorney Bryan Lewis said at the time. “We’re alleging that equal protection rights are being violated by not being allowed to be open.”

The attorney told WSMV that the lawsuit had been denied.

“We are deeply disappointed in the judge’s ruling but respect and understand his decision,” Bryan said. “We will continue to prosecute the case vigorously and will likely move for additional injunctive relief as the facts develop in discovery.”

The news comes as Nashville has returned to a modified Phase 2, forcing restaurants to open at only 50 percent capacity, and bars that derive most of their revenue from alcohol sales to remain closed. In addition, masks are required to be worn at all indoor and outdoor public spaces. The restraining order requested that Metro Health officials not be allowed to enter their businesses and shut them down, or issue citations.

According to the lawyer representing the owners of some of the establishments, it is unfair to force bars to close.

“They can have patrons come in, operate at 50% capacity, they can have people sit at tables where there’s proper social distancing and serve both alcohol and food and have entertainment if they want to,” Bryan stated (via WKRN).

“We have been working with the police department and they have been warning and giving out information about the mask mandate,” Hugh Atkins with the Metro Board of Health said. “We have been in discussion with the Metro Nashville Police Department in the last few days. The last thing they are ironing out is the legal process for how those citations will be handled once they’re issued. Once that’s ironed out, the citations will start to be issued to individuals that are found not wearing them.”

Kid Rock’s Honky Tonk was one of 14 bars that were cited for failing to comply with guidelines, resulting in the temporary loss of their beer permit.