A Washington, D.C., restaurant chain announced its closure Thursday, citing a surge in violent crime and operating costs.
"This decision was not an easy one," read an Instagram post from the owners of Brine, which operates one seafood restaurant on H Street and another in DuPont Circle. "Unfortunately, the challenges of the restaurant industry since the pandemic, the current economic climate, and the spike in violent crime have made it increasingly difficult to operate and impossible for us to survive. We have explored all options, but regrettably, we have no choice but to close our doors."
The restaurants' last service will be Saturday, Nov. 11, the owners said.
Though the Dupont location's closure was largely because of costs, according to Fox 5, Aaron McGovern, who operates the chain's H Street location, highlighted the effect of crime on his restaurant's closure in an interview with the outlet.
"Not just burglary crime," McGovern said. "We’ve both been burglarized numerous times, both of my restaurants. Numerous times. So has everyone on the block, numerous times. We started to see violence. Not just 'Oh, there’s a gunshot a mile away. We could hear the bullets.' It's—the restaurant I’m looking at right now had four shootings there four weeks ago."
That restaurant, Cru, located across H Street from Brine, was the site of a shooting that left one dead and three injured Sept. 23.
McGovern also called on local leadership to address rising crime rates' effects on businesses.
"I think our leadership in government, local government should really take a look at the businesses," he told Fox 5. "The safety of the citizens. The well-being of its taxpaying base and see that it’s important because people will leave. They stop going out. They’ll move out of the city, and you need to protect your citizens."
As of Thursday, violent crime has increased 40 percent year-to-date since 2022, while property crime has increased 25 percent in the same period.
Crime in D.C. has also affected members of Congress. Three armed assailants early last month carjacked Rep. Henry Cuellar (D., Texas). The car contained his phone, iPad, and sushi dinner, all of which police recovered along with the car.