Iconic Nashville Bar Officially Sells The Most PBR In The Country

There are accomplishments, there are significant feats, and there are the highest of all achievements; Robert's Western World just accomplished the later. When most people hear Nashville they immediately think artist owned bars. Jason Aldean's, Miranda Lambert's Casa Rosa, Kid Rock's, Luke Bryan's 32 Bridge, really there's way more than their should be, and while it clearly works as a marketing tactic, many of these drinking establishments have tossed aside the "tradition" of Music City and cater exclusively to bachelorette parties from Cedar Rapids. But there's still a few classic watering holes kicking around. Tootsies and Legends come to mind immediately but there's one stalwart that's remained pretty much unchanged no matter what industry trend or urbanization occurred around it: Robert's Western World. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DEsQ2IlO6d_/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== RWW is an absolute must stop every time I find myself in Nashville. They always have some classic country band playing (which is shockingly rare in "country music's home"), the decor is exactly what you'd want in a dive bar, and the prices are more than affordable, so riddle me this, why would anyone go anywhere else? Do you really want to hear "Livin' On A Prayer" again? While you can order anything you want at RWW and be happy, they have an iconic menu offering that balances the need for downhome food, something sweet, and a bit of booze, all for less than a Starbucks latte.

The Recession Special

Everything is getting insanely expensive these days, right? Not at Robert's Western World. After a day of Miller Lites and Jack Daniels shots (alright, most Nashville bars definitely serve more White Claws and Lemon Drops) you may find yourself needing some calories. RWW has your back. For just $6 dollars, you can get a thick fried bologna sandwich, a bag of chips, a Moon Pie, and an ice cold can of PBR. Tell me how anything in the entire world gets better than putting down one of these while some dude rips an upright bass solo during "Orange Blossom Special" or "I Think I'll Just Stay Here And Drink". Exactly, you can't think of a single thing you'd want more. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DBTwuo9OSLM/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== Obviously the fact you get a full on sandwich, side, and dessert for $6 bucks is a steal but throwing in that PBR can is a real treat and something unique to Robert's. The Recession Special accounts for 32% of RWW's $2.50 beer sales, and while you technically can switch out the PBR for a different $2.50 beer, pretty much everyone sticks with the original. When a deal is that good you're bound to sell a lot and it turns out the Recession Special may well have given them an extra push last year, solidifying Robert's Western World as the number one bar in the country, at least in one very important category.

No Bar Sells More PRB Than Robert's Western World

For the past 10 years, a bar in Charleston has sold more 12-ounce cans of PBR than any other. The Recovery Room, known locally as Rec Room, sells a cold can of PBR for 2 bucks, and though owner Chris DiMattia never made it a point to push them, PBR connected deeply with his customer base. In 2011, Rec Room popped enough PBR tops to be the second highest seller in the country. They took over the number one spot in 2015 and have held firm ever since, selling over 130,000 cans in 2022 alone, which works out to just over 356 a day. But last year, they lost their crown. The Recovery Room recently posted on social media that their run as PBR King came to an end, losing out to, you guessed it, Robert's Western World in 2024. Their post read: "Being on top of Pabst Blue Ribbon for ten years was not only incredible it was a miracle it ever became a thing for this little bar on the other side of the crosstown. This year we finished 2nd in the over all Pabst volume accounts for canned beer. We want to congratulate Robert's Western World for being the new champion but don’t think we are giving up! We plan to regain the crown from the city of Nashville and bring it back home to Charleston sc!!" https://www.instagram.com/p/DEqKnp1Bhe5/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D This Instagram post and an article in the Post and Courier were the only place that reported on this, so I decided to reach out. Emily Ann Jones, Co-Proprietor and General Manager, was gracious enough to share some thoughts on Robert's Western World becoming the number one PBR bar in the country. Oddly enough, Emily Ann and the team only found out about knocking off Rec Room through the grapevine and heard nothing from the company itself or their reps. Really seems like PBR is missing a major marketing opportunity here. Why not publicize or host an event at the best selling bar each year? At least make a big deal about it on social media so other places take notice and try to push your product to be recognized next year, right? Publish the top 10 list and send out wall signs saying "This bar was the X best seller of PBR last year", seems like a lay-up to sell more beer... Pabst, have your people contact mine, we've got an opportunity on our hands. On why PBR connects with their customers and what being the nation's top seller means to Robert's Western World, Emily Ann said: "Yes after 10 straight years that another venue has held the title, Roberts officially is the leading seller for PBR! ... We think it’s awesome! We promote PBR proudly and love the collaboration on our house RWW/PBR trucker hat! ... It’s a household name with RWW. RWW teamed up with PBR some time ago to create our PBR merchandise. Our Trucker hat has been around for over 15 years! We used to have some T-shirt designs with PBR as well. We have co-branded for a long time and people are used to seeing the 2 names together!" I then asked how Robert's has been able to remain the same despite the rapidly changing landscape of Broadway and surrounding areas. Her answer truly hit at the core of what makes a great bar, well, great: "It’s easy. We just leave well enough alone! We focus first and foremost on the music that made Music City! You will find some of the best musicians in the world on our stage! With the great music that we will always protect, promote, and perpetuate, we happen to have amazing food and super cold beer/drinks. Our bands, staff, and of course our patrons help make RWW what it is!" We just leave well enough alone... That's beautifully said and a lesson I hope many in Nashville take notice of. You don't need to be fancy, or loud, or new to be cool. It's not about riding a trend or latching onto the latest hot thing, it's about understanding your core and tenaciously sticking to and defending it no matter what the "experts" say. Honestly, Nashville's music industry should take a hard look at RWW's business model and realize if they want to create something that will last for decades, if not generations, you have to be genuine and focus on what truly matters: The spirit of the genre, the culture of the people, and (most importantly) quality, real country music. Big congrats to Robert's Western World. PBR, like many "retro" things, has made a resurgence in recent years and RWW epitomizes the type of bar that keeps the Pabst Blue Ribbon spirit thriving. Quite honestly, RWW defines what bar culture in America is widely known as. If we don't want every bar to be Edison Lights, exposed ceilings, backless metal stools, and $18 burgers served without fries, we have to vote with our dollars and support the long-standing, traditional American drinking establishment like Robert's Western World, not whatever flashy new concept pops up. Let the clubs take the headlines. Let them overcharge for everything and play Top 40 radio crap to a group of people that don't know any better. Robert's Western World, you stay doing the exact same thing. Open your doors, book real country acts, and rip PBRs out of the cooler at a frightening pace. Next time you're in Nashville, pop into Robert's Western World and order up a PBR or two. Just be sure to grab some Liquid I.V. because if there's one thing I know about Music City, the hangovers are brutal. Here's a video of a drummer crashing through Robert's front window because I'll use any excuse to watch it again. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4q18m4m4ic This post contains links from our Affiliate Partners program. If you use these links to make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.