DC winery and concert venue closing due to crime: 'Too unsafe for our staff'
City Winery seeking new location in Washington, DC, but will no longer operate in Ivy City neighborhood
FOX Business' Jeff Flock speaks with a Philadelphia store owner as crime sprees wreak havoc on small businesses.
A popular live entertainment venue and winery is closing its current location in Washington, D.C., due to a stubborn rise in crime.
City Winery is closing its doors in the Ivy City neighborhood due to worsening safety conditions for staff and customers.
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KeKe Wyatt performs live in concert at City Winery on July 21, 2022, in Washington, D.C. (Brian Stukes/Getty Images / Getty Images)
"We are temporarily closing in DC. Unfortunately, the neighborhood has gotten too unsafe for our staff, our performing artists and our patrons," Michael Dorf, founder and CEO of City Winery.
He continued, "City Winery is growing in other cities very successfully, and we are actively looking for a new DC location to operate. We really love the Market, but Ivy City has sadly not improved as promised by our landlord."
City Winery in Washington, D.C. (Lars Niki/WireImage for The Recording Academy / Getty Images)
Violent crimes have been on the rise in Washington, D.C., since 2020, with that year notching a nearly 20% increase in murders compared to 2019.
2021 saw a 15% increase in murders compared to 2020’s already bloody year, and murders in 2022 are down 10% from the year before.
Musician Marshall Crenshaw performs with the Marshall Crenshaw Trio at City Winery on Nov. 16, 2019, in Washington, D.C. ((Photo by Al Pereira/Getty Images). / Getty Images)
City Winery has not yet announced which neighborhood it is seeking relocation to inside Washington, D.C.
FOX Business' Chase Williams contributed to this report.