Elmer Denzel Irwin, owner of the beloved dive bar Santa’s Pub in Nashville, has died. He was 75.

Irwin opened Santa’s Pub in 2011, turning it into more than just another spot to grab a drink. The place became a fixture the sort of neighborhood dive where locals and regulars felt at home.

News of his passing drew tributes from all over town. Customers, musicians, staff, and fans of the pub shared stories about Irwin’s hospitality and how his bar was a constant in Nashville’s scene.

At a time when many watering holes come and go, Santa’s Pub stood out because of its attitude: not flashy, not fancy, but honest and warm. That spirit owed a lot to Irwin himself. His passing isn’t just the loss of a bar owner, it’s the loss of a Nashville fixture.