Paul Sonner, owner of the 14 Bully's Sports Bar and Grill locations throughout Northern Nevada, died Saturday, reportedly of a heart attack.
"We are extremely shocked and saddened at the loss of our leader and friend," said Jody Clark, District Manager of Bully's Sports Bar & Grill. "We hope to carry on as Paul would have done and to continue giving back to the community that was so important to him."
Sonner, who founded Bully's in 1994, leaves behind a daughter.
Business at all Bully's locations will remain uninterrupted, according to a statement on Bully's Facebook page.
The sports bar and grill filed for bankruptcy earlier this month. Sonner, who lobbied against the state smoking ban in 2007, said the it had affected his business when coupled with the general downturn in the economy.
Sonner supported dozens of charitable causes while donating money to local high schools.