George Brumat, 63, owner of the famous Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro in New Orleans, died Saturday in NOLA of an apparent heart attack.
Brumat had a deep love for jazz and believed the music was an important part of New Orleans. Although Brumat never had children, “He was a father figure for a lot of people, especially the staff at Snug Harbor. They were like his family,” says Jason Patterson, talent buyer and landowner for the restaurant/venue. “[Brumat] could be a tough boss, but he was also kind and loving.”
Snug Harbor began as the Faubourg until Brumat bought out the other partners and changed the name in 1983.
Brumat protected his club even after Hurricane Katrina devastated NOLA, standing guard over Snug Harbor and protecting it from looters. “[We found him] healthy in front of Snug Harbor when we snuck back in after Katrina,” says Patterson. “It was a warm feeling after driving into what was essentially a ghost town to see him sitting there.”
Snug Harbor will be managed by the club’s staff and will remain open. “George wanted to keep the club open if anything like this happened,” says Patterson. “We’re going to keep the club open and status quo.”
Brumat is survived by a brother in Pascagoula, Miss., and two nieces in Italy. Funeral arrangements have not been made yet.
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