The Northside Tavern History

Top Ten Dive Bars in America: The Northside Tavern "As you sit in the Northside Tavern most of the time you are there you mouth will hang open in disbelief. .. At any point you are expecting Rod Serling to walk out and do an epilogue...The bar has cheap drinks and great live music. The Northside Tavern features the best in Atlanta bands and  original regional Blues, Roots and Jazz artists. "

Live Music seven nights a week.

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AWARDS
Insight Magazine
2006-Best Blues Club

Creative Loafing
2000-Readers Choice-Musician's Hang Out2000-Readers Choice-Best Dive2001-Readers Choice-Best Dive2001-Critics Choice-Best Dive 2002-Readers Choice-Best Blues Club2002-Readers Choice-Best Dive2003-Readers Choice-Best Dive2008- Readers Choice-Best Blues Club
DEMOCRATIC LORE: BEST PLACE TO SING (AND HEAR) THE BLUES 
Critics Pick: Northside Tavern 2015

City Guide/City's Best
2004-Best Bar
2004-Best Cheap Drinks
(parcial list)

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The Northside Tavern was built in the 1940's as a neighborhood grocery store/gas station
 and it evolved over the years into a neighborhood blue collar bar called Northside Package. A fixture of the area and a stopping place of refreshment for many years, this lively musical gathering spot has been under continuous ownership by the same family since 1975.

Ellyn Webb, daughter of the original owner and an active leader and supporter of the Atlanta Blues Society and Atlanta musicians She has been the proprietor since 1989. 

For 25 years (1964-1989) Ellyns' father Butler Webb ran the bar until his death in 1989.
He was the black sheep of a family of politicians, but instead of running for office he took his talent for bringing people together and opened a tavern. His brother, James Webb and grandfather Paul Webb Sr., were elected civil servants and served Fulton County as County Commissioners.

The area immediately surrounding the Northside Tavern historically was the Miller Union Stock Yards. From the early 1900's to around the 30's and 40's the buildings were mostly wood barns and pens for cattle, horses, mules and other livestock.
Many of these structures burned in a 1940s fire according to Howell Station resident Jules Carter.

The 1932 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map says 'wood store' about the building at the present-day location of the Northside Tavern. Although not of historical importance, it is possible that the stucco finish on the Tavern covers a very old building deep beneath many layers of remodelings.

Thanks to Ellyn Webb and the Marietta Street ARTery Association Neighborhood Website for their insights into the history of Northside Tavern.

A young musician named Danny "Mudcat" Dudeck approached the owner with a new plan in 1992 and rewrote Northside Tavern and the Atlanta music scene history.  Danny and Ellyn brought the Blues and Atlanta Blues Musicians to the club and gave them a home. 

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 WORLD FAMOUS NORTHSIDE TAVERN 
LIVE MUSIC SEVEN NIGHTS A WEEK
1058 Howell Mill Rd N.W. Atlanta, GA 30318 (404) 874-8745 
Site design and photos (exceptions as noted): Stephen Talkovich 2016-2017-2018. Gallery Photos: Vincent Tseng