Petition issues call to keep music in Music City after Soulshine forced to close patio
NASHVILLE, Tenn.--A Change.org petition is calling an Nashville residents to keep the music in Music City after noise complaints forced Soulshine Pizza Factory to shut down the popular second-floor patio.
The petition titled "Noise Complaints vs. Music in Midtown" has totaled over 4,500 (as of this writing) of the 5,000 goal aimed at amending the city ordinance which caused the shutdown. Posted by Red Roots Music, LLC., the petition states "We always thought it was the music ringing outside that made this city so special, dancing in the streets, sharing in the unity and brotherhood of our music community."
It's a sentiment echoed by Soulshine owner Chris Sartin, who says he didn't see it coming. "There were never any warnings, it was that day we were told we gotta stop. To me, that was not fair. To go for four years playing music on the patio and then forced to abruptly change," Sartin says.
Sartin says the issues started in October of last year, when police started to show up to the establishment to relay noise complaints coming from neighbors. It's unknown how many people were involved in the complaints, but it was enough for a court order instructing Soulshine ownership live music could not be audible to anyone living in the surrounding area. Sartin says he has already paid $43,000 in legal fees fighting the ordinance and now will spend over $100,000 to enclose the patio area in anticipation of a March 1, reopening.
"It's hard to go against the city and condos sprouting up around here," Sartin says, "I see the light. I am just so grateful for all the the support and never expected this." Like others, Sartin notes the irony of the complaints and the order. "We even have the live music pick outside which was put up by the city." Sartin says he was able to come up with an agreement to stop patio performances and keep music levels down by New Year's Day. He planned on just focusing on enclosing the patio thanks to having partners who are able to assist in making the expensive transition. "If I wasn't part of a great partnership and we were a typical mom and pop's place we would of had to shut down," Sartin says.
Then came a Facebook post last week which has reached over 350,000 people and the petition launched on Monday. According to the petition statement, the fear is Soulshine won't be the last live music establishment which could be affected. "AT BEST WE WISH TO AMEND THIS ORDINANCE. We believe that this could, and will spread if it is not eliminated now. We believe the majority of people in MUSIC CITY would agree that music is our legacy and should be preserved and supported and continue to be held in high regard."
