BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — Despite initial reports that the longtime blues juke joint in Bessemer would be closing for good this past weekend, the family of its longtime owner says differently.

On what was initially being promoted as its final show, Sheree Stafford went onstage between songs at Gip’s Place Saturday night to thank the crowd for coming out to honor her father, Henry “Gip” Gipson.

In addition to thanking the crowd, Stafford wanted to assure people who thought that the blues venue would continue hosting music. Gip’s Place originally opened in 1952 in Gipson’s backyard and has received both local and national praise for its authenticity.

“I’d just like to say thank you, thank you, thank you and you are all welcome any time,” Stafford said amid cheers. “This is not the end of my daddy’s legacy. Please feel free to come every Saturday because it has just begun.”

Stafford went on to say she had recently spoken with her father, a 99-year-old former gravedigger by trade, and that he wanted to keep the club running. Attempts to reach Stafford for comment after the show were unsuccessful Monday.

On Aug. 8, a post was made on Gipson’s Facebook page announcing that the venue’s Saturday show would be its last. Gipson, the 99-year-old who spent many years as a gravedigger, has faced different health problems over the years and was briefly hospitalized back in June.

“Gip’s Place is not Gip’s Place without Gip and, absent some prospect that he will be able to come, we have no desire to maintain it,” the post read.

However, Gipson’s family has subsequently denied that Gip’s Place would be closing, but would be coming under new management. Gipson’s son, Keith, confirmed the news in Facebook post late last week.

Diane Guyton, the former manager of Gip’s Place for the last five years, did not comment on why she decided to leave Gip’s or her relationship with Gipson’s family.

“I wish them the best of luck and I hope they keep it,” Guyton said.