Denzel Irwin, the owner of Santa’s Pub in Nashville, has died. He was 75 years old.
The news was shared on Instagram by Natalie Osborne, sister of country duo, Brothers Osborne, who shared, “Santa has flown home to the North Pole.. my how great it was to share life with him. I will cherish every story he ever told and will cherish our own special stories forever. He brought so much magic to us in Nashville as well as people from all over the world that came to see ‘the best dive bar in America.’”
No other details or cause of death are known at this time.
Irwin was a Franklin native who opened the pub in 2011, known for its year-round Christmas decorations. It also had several celebrity sightings over the years including Kacey Musgraves, Ed Sheeran, and Snoop Dogg. In addition, the bar only served beer, and the only form of payment accepted was cash.
Jon Bon Jovi shared on social media, “When we filmed at Santa’s Pub in Nashville, Denzel gave us more than a location … he gave us his kindness and his time. Took some time to sit and speak with him for a while that day, you could feel the heart behind the pub. Rest easy, Denzel. JBJ”
No updates have been given on whether the bar will reopen this week. The typical hours for Santa’s Pub are Wednesday through Sunday, 4 pm until 3 am. The pub is located at 2225 Bransford Avenue, Nashville.
Please Join Our FREE Newsletter!
