Since May 2008, Tootsies Orchid Lounge has been providing the best in county music and great times at their latest location in Panama City Beach at Pier Park.
Our original Tootsies location is in Nashville, TN. Hattie "Tootsie" Louis Tatum bought the bar (called Mom's at the time of purchase) in 1960. She credited a painter with the name new name because of the orchid color he'd painted her building. Tootsie was a singer/comedienne with "Big Jeff & The Radio Playboys. She recorded "My Little Red Wagon" and Tootsie's Wall of Fame."
Records about Tootsie's include "What's Tootsies Gonna Do When They Tear the Ryman Down?" and "The Wettest Shoulders in Town."
Several movies and segments have been filmed in and about Tootsies. Famous early customers range from Waylon Jennings to Patsy Cline. Willie Nelson even got his first songwriting job after playing at Tootsie's. It was said that Tootsie had a cigar box behind the counter full of IOU's from where she'd given drinks and food to hungry pickers and beggars.
Charlie Pride gave Tootsie a jeweled hatpin that she used to stick unruly patrons with.