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 1972.
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.
