Business & Tech

Royal Oak's Oxford Inn To Be Transformed Into Bobby's Nashville Bar and Grill

The Main Street restaurant is changing its look and menu to offer country favorites with a gourmet twist.

Bob Higgins is going back to his roots.

The owner of the Oxford Inn, whose family hails from Erin, TN, plans to bring a little southern flair to Royal Oak this spring when he changes the name of his Main Street eatery to Bobby's Nashville Bar and Grill.

A taste of southern hospitality

After doing business at 1214 S. Main St. for 25 years, Higgins is hoping the Liquor Control Committee and the Royal Oak City Commission will look favorably at his request to change the name of his establishment.

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"All we are asking for is permission to change our name," Higgins said. "We aren't adding seats or anything like that."

Higgins is hoping to capitalize on the popularity of country music and food with a complete restaurant makeover that includes changing the menu and decor and offering live music.

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The Oxford Inn's core followers, however, will be happy to learn mainstays, such as ribs, oysters Rockefeller and steaks, will stay on the menu.

"We're putting together the new menu now," Higgins said. "We plan to add country favorites with a gourmet twist. For example, we're going to have black-eyed pea hummus. Now who else serves black-eyed pea hummus around here?"

The waitstaff will dress in jeans with cowboy hats and kerchiefs and the decor will offer southern accents, Higgins said.

There are currently three rooms at the Oxford Inn, so the restaurant will be able to stay open during the renovations, he said.

In tune with country

Higgins also plans to book notable country entertainers and establish a relationship with a local radio station.

"Country is really hot right now," Higgins said. "I record all the reality TV shows – 'The Voice,' 'X Factor,' 'American Idol.' All the winners are country acts."

Higgins hopes he can draw a new demographic to town.

"There really isn't anything around that is like what we want to do," he said. And our location is great. I always tell people Royal Oak is where the east meets the west, and the north meets the south."

And, Higgins points out he can offer guests free parking – lots of it. That's a rarity in downtown Royal Oak, he said.

What do you think of the proposed changes? Tell us in the comments.


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