The Second Fiddle

About The Second Fiddle

Permanently closed. The Second Fiddle closed in January 2026 after roughly 25 years on Lower Broadway. This page is kept for reference. For bars that are open now, see the Broadway venue directory.

The Second Fiddle operated at 420 Broadway for about 25 years, in the row of bars between Tootsie’s and Layla’s. It was owned by Ruble and Brenda Sanderson, the same family behind Legends Corner and The Stage on Broadway, which made it one of the last independent, family-run honky-tonks on a street that has steadily gone over to corporate and celebrity-owned venues.

It ran live country music seven days a week with no cover charge, with music memorabilia covering the walls. The crowd was a mix of locals and visitors who wanted a traditional, no-frills Broadway honky-tonk rather than a multi-floor party bar. It closed at the start of 2026.

If you came looking for The Second Fiddle, the closest open bars in the same stretch of Broadway are Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge and Layla’s Honky Tonk, both a few steps away and both still running traditional live country. The full list of operating venues is in the Broadway venue directory.