NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) – After being closed for a month, Santa's Pub in Wedgewood-Houston reopened Sunday to throw a birthday bash for the late owner, Denzel Irwin, and celebrate the legendary bar's future.

Many knew Irwin as a local, but he was also known for being Nashville's very own Santa.

“He was definitely a jolly guy,” said musician Monique Staffile, whose band was one of the first to use the pub as a set for a music video over a decade ago. “He was Santa, so he was really happy, he was really proud of his bar, really proud of his family.”

He would welcome everyone inside, even famous artists from around the world.

“Megan Moroney, Eric Church, Luke Bryan, Morgan Wallen -- I mean, you can pretty much go down the list of the 'who's who' of country music in Nashville, and I can promise you they've had a beer at Santa's at one time or another,” artist Stephen Cochran said.

Once you get inside, there are a few rules to follow, such as no cigarettes, no drinking, and no cussing during karaoke.

“You come in with no judgments, and you come with cash,” Staffile said.

Riley Ricketts grew up watching his grandfather run this bar. He said over the past decade, there have been a few things written in stone that will remain.

“You respect ladies in this bar. No f-bombs...around my granny or the rest of these wonderful women,” he said, adding that there's no cursing on the microphone, no smoking inside, and no beer on stage.

There are many memories Santa’s Pub holds for Ricketts, like seeing his grandfather become friends with well-known artists from across the globe.

“Watching my grandfather interact with Kacey Musgraves, Ed Sheeran, Kid Rock, the entirety of Kings of Leon, it's been crazy to see,” Ricketts said.

Now he has taken the reins, sharing the responsibility with his grandmother, Angelina.

“It's another opportunity to keep on doing what Santa started,” he said. “We're going to spread love and make everybody a star up on that karaoke stage, and sell ice-cold beer... We're in a trailer; we can't get too fancy.”

Ricketts hopes to keep the traditions and magic alive at the bar.

“I want people to know that we have no intentions of changing anything about this place,” he said. 

Although it will not be the same without the jolly, bearded man greeting guests, Ricketts knows his grandfather cared for his community.

“To see how many people have came together to support him and really just, leave a lasting one more memory, to say, 'Santa, we still are thankful for what you created here in Nashville,'” Cochran said, “and with us losing so much of the staples here in Nashville, to know that this is still here, for a true Nashvillian, it's something that we really hold dear to us.”

Even though Irwin is gone, everyone felt his presence on Sunday, Oct. 19.

“If you want to see what old Nashville used to be like, I mean, before we had a lot of the big national interests move into downtown, we had little pubs like this where we got together, and good music has been written here,” Cochran said.

Ricketts thanked everyone who has supported his family since Irwin's death last month.

“Seeing the impact that he had on this community and seeing those people come back around and spread that love to our family in these hard times, it means a lot, and we really appreciate it,” he said. “We love Nashville. We're born and raised here, so thank you, Nashville, from the bottom of our hearts.”

Community members are now welcome to visit what will be called The Legendary Santa's Pub.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/nashville/santas-pub-reopens-to-honor-late-owner-denzel-irwin/