ATLANTA — For the first time in nearly 60 years, Manuel's Tavern is closed. But just temporarily.
Customers enjoyed the final few hours Sunday before closing time.
Channel 2's Wendy Corona visited the history public house on North Highland Avenue to talk with customers and employees about how they're dealing with the closure.
"We just want to get this place set up so we can compete for the next 60 years," said owner Brian Maloof.
In order to do that, Manuel's will need to close for about three-and-a-half months.
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"But the bottom line is it's closing for renovations, it's going to be back," said longtime customer Carl Pydrum.
That knowledge keeps Pyrdum calm but Angelo Fuster, a regular to Manuel's Tavern since 1970, is still trying to wrap his mind around it.
"Oh my God. What am I going to do while it's closed? And I still don't know," Fuster said.
The North Highland Avenue pub is more than just a place to eat and drink. It's where customers go to visit with their extended family, the staff. For this reason, John Duke started a GoFundMe page to help the nearly 50 employees who will be out of work while Manuel's is closed.
"It was the good will of the customers that started this. The staff didn't ask for it," Duke said.
"My job again is to get open quickly and get them back working as quickly as I can, and that's our big goal," Maloof said.
Another big goal will be to not change a thing. The pictures will still hang and they jokingly say even the dust on the beer cans will be back in the spring. They'll maintain the character and traditions of a bar that has hosted local and national politicos through the decades.
WSBTV
