WESTERN SPRINGS, IL – In its final month, a Western Springs cocktail bar was sued by Nashville's famed Grand Ole Opry for alleged trademark infringement.
After The Opry closed in late March, the Grand Ole Opry dropped the litigation.
The last few weeks were tough for The Opry. In early March, a fight between employees drew local police, with officers finding a drunk employee behind the register, according to a report.
On Feb. 24, the Grand Ole Opry's owner, Ryman Hospitality Properties, filed a lawsuit in federal court. It pointed to the Western Springs bar's name and repeated references to Nashville.
In an Instagram post, the bar said before its January 2024 opening, "A taste of Nashville is on its way to Western Springs!"
On Aug. 21, 2025, the Grand Ole Opry's law firm, Adams and Reese, sent a letter to Dan Schovain, owner of The Opry in Western Springs.
The firm said its client wanted the firm to contact the bar on an "amicable basis" to resolve issues with the Nashville venue's trademark.
"While we appreciate your enthusiasm for the Opry, our client is concerned that your use of the Opry trademark will inevitably confuse consumers into believing that your business is sponsored by or affiliated with Ryman," attorney Kristina Montanaro Schrader said in the letter.
She asked the Western Springs establishment to adopt a new name and transfer its domain, OpryProvisions.com, to Ryman.
Schrader said Ryman was willing to allow The Opry a "generous period" to take these actions with minimal disruption to its business. It set an Oct. 21, 2025, deadline.
Patch left a message for comment Monday with Schovain.
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