The recent death of Ellyn Webb, longtime proprietor of the Northside Tavern , has left patrons wondering about the future of the blues bar on Atlanta's westside.

The bar has been run by the Webb family since Butler Webb, Ellyn Webb’s father, purchased it in 1972.

According to Tommy Webb, Ellyn Webb’s brother and business partner, there are no plans to sell the bar. “We certainly, at this point, have no intentions of selling the place,” he said.

Upon his sister’s passing, Tommy Webb has assumed full ownership of the tavern and he will handle day-to-day operations.

Webb also stated that he does not intend to make any changes or improvements to the dive bar, despite redevelopment occurring in the neighborhood and particularly along Howell Mill Road. He said that keeping the bar in its scrappy state was important not only to his sister, but to Northside Tavern patrons. “When I ask, ‘What can I do to improve this thing? The answer is, ‘Not a thing. Don’t touch it.’”

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