CINCINNATI — Dave Cunningham, the owner of The Comet bar who helped spark a renaissance in Cincinnati's Northside neighborhood, died suddenly at his home Tuesday at age 54, WCPO confirmed.
We were not able to confirm the cause of his death.
"He was a forerunner here down in Northside," said Billie Leta, a friend of Cunningham's.
The Comet is a beloved Northside bar that serves up everything from drinks to dinner to Sunday brunch, even featuring live entertainment.
WATCH: Friends and neighbors of Cunningham talk about his impact on the community
Cunningham opened The Comet on Hamilton Avenue in 1994, before most other bars had established themselves in the area.
"He opened The Comet before a lot of the bars — most of the bars were around down here. He brought people to Northside for those burritos, you know," Leta said with a laugh.
Those who knew Cunningham said he wanted The Comet to be a place where everyone could come together and be themselves.
But Cunningham's impact extended far beyond his bar. Steve Mondary, a tattoo artist and owner of Northside Electric Tattoo, said Cunningham was known as "the unofficial mayor of Northside."
Mondary remembered a man who invested heavily in the diverse Cincinnati neighborhood, both through his generosity and property ownership.
One thing we heard often while talking to those who knew Cunningham was that he was a giving person and provided a safe place for people.
"I just aspire to be like him, you know — playing real-life Monopoly. He just ran around buying property like it was soda," Mondary said.
In a post on social media, The Comet confirmed it would still be open Wednesday. Comments on the post showed support for Cunningham's friends and family and even shared memories of him.
Cunningham's absence is already being felt in the tight-knit community.
"Pulling up in the morning for me has been tough just because I haven't seen his truck. And I'm used to seeing his truck out there waiting, and he'd be here," Mondary said.
