Nashville is famous for its epic bar scene, but finding a good bar to go to isn't for the weak. One thing that might surprise tourists is how often locals will choose a small, quaint dive bar over Broadway. It can be intimidating to go bar-hopping in Nashville if you're not sure where to start, but somewhere you can always count on for a good time is Santa's Pub. This hole-in-the-wall is decorated to the nines with Christmas lights and fun decor, and has a sort of rustic appeal. As you pass by the little trailer in Wedgewood Houston, it's hard not to be curious about what's inside.
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Recently, the owner of Santa's Pub, Elmer Denzel Irwin, passed away from an unknown cause. Many celebrities, including Natalie Osborne, have taken to social media to share their sympathies and love for the bar owner. Many of them cite him as someone who was a part their best memories in a small way.
Friends of Irwin's Reveal He Was 'The Real Santa'
Irwin initially opened Santa's Pub in 2011, looking for a new dream to chase after retiring. The man had 18 grandkids, who often called him "Santa" because of the physical likeness he shares with the character. Natalie Osborne, the wife of TJ Osborne, even called Irwin "the real Santa," saying he was a lot like the mystical character in more ways than one.
"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." Osborne shared in her post that, "My heart breaks, but my gratitude is full for having the chance to know and love him and to be loved by him."
Other celebrities, like Kacey Musgraves, also shared her condolences. She even said he "was such a massive part of [her] and [her] friends' lives for years." Musgraves shared in an Instagram story, where she reposted Osborne's post, "I have so many unforgettable and hilariously legendary memories with him in it. Rest in peace to the real Santa."
Nashville locals and tourists alike can still visit Santa's Pub, which is located in Nashville at 2225 Bransford Ave. If you need a place to crash after a night out or grab a beer, this is where to go. Hopefully, Santa's memory can live on in those that continue to come back, so that the magic of this dive bar isn't lost.
Photo via L. Paul Mann / Shutterstock
