Jonathan Hall, the co-owner of the Twisted Wheel lounge on Water Street and founder of the Hootenanny on Hunter, has died. He was 44.

Mr. Hall's friend and business partner Mike Judson, co-owner of the Twisted Wheel, said Mr. Hall died at home Friday evening.

"We're all pretty gutted now, as I'm sure you can imagine," Judson said in an interview Saturday.

Judson said his friend had celebrated his 44th birthday last weekend.

Judson is a radio host and former weather analyst with CHEX-TV; he and his wife Jennifer co-owned The Twisted Wheel with Mr. Hall.

They opened the lounge on Water Street in May, 2018.

Mr. Hall had previously co-owned The Trasheteria, Splice and Spanky's.

He was also a graphic designer with an affinity for vintage décor.

The website PTBOCanada reported earlier this month that Mr. Hall and his partner Kayley Duggan were the new owners of the antique store Nostalgic Journey on Highway 7 near Highway 115.

The couple took ownership of the store on March 1, according to PTBOCanada.

Judson said that when he moved to Peterborough, Mr. Hall "took me under his wing" and introduced him to a wide circle of friends who are still his friends today.

"He had a way of bringing people together…. And he was a no-BS kind of guy," Judson said.

Judson described Mr. Hall as a "sweet and wonderful" person who shunned the spotlight – even when it came to promoting events such as the Hootenanny on Hunter.

There were times when Judson wanted to photograph his friend to promote events, but Mr. Hall disliked the attention.

"He hated cameras," Judson recalled. "He would sweat profusely."

In a Facebook posting made after website KawarthaNOW published news of Mr. Hall's death Saturday, downtown BIA executive director Terry Guiel wrote that Mr. Hall's death is a "massive loss to our community."

"Wonderful person – he was such a great contributor to our downtown," Guiel wrote.

"We will plan to honour him in some way this year and perpetually at Hootenanny on Hunter, an event he created," Guiel continued. "I am grateful that I knew him for a time and will greatly miss his presence downtown."

Mayor Diane Therrien posted a tweet of condolence on Saturday, writing that Mr. Hall's death is "a huge loss for the Peterborough community."

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"Very sad to wake up to this news," the mayor wrote on Saturday morning. "Sending love and strength to Jon's family and friends."

Judson said Mr. Hall – whom he called Jonny – had a grateful attitude.

"I learned so much from him," Judson said. "If I'm going to remember Jonny for anything, it's for love and music. That's what he was all about."