{"id":2096668,"date":"2023-11-10T17:38:02","date_gmt":"2023-11-10T22:38:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/dc-restaurant-chain-shuts-down-over-surge-in-violent-crime-costs\/"},"modified":"2023-11-10T17:41:10","modified_gmt":"2023-11-10T22:41:10","slug":"dc-restaurant-chain-shuts-down-over-surge-in-violent-crime-costs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/dc-restaurant-chain-shuts-down-over-surge-in-violent-crime-costs\/","title":{"rendered":"DC Restaurant Chain Shuts Down Over Surge in Violent Crime, Costs"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdc-restaurant-chain-shuts-down-over-surge-in-violent-crime-costs%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2096668&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>Washington, D.C. Restaurant Chain Forced to Close Due to Surge in Violent Crime and Operating Costs<\/h2>\n<div>\n<figure><figcaption>(Alex Wong\/Getty\u200b Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>A popular restaurant chain in Washington, D.C. made a heartbreaking announcement on Thursday &#8211; they will be closing their doors for good. Brine, known for\u200b its delicious \u2063seafood, cited the \u200balarming \u200bincrease in violent crime and soaring operating costs as the main reasons behind their decision.<\/p>\n<p>In \u200ban \u2063emotional Instagram <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CzbR-DCuG4r\/\">post<\/a>,\u200c the\u200b owners\u200d expressed their deep regret, stating, &#8220;This decision was not an easy one. Unfortunately, the challenges of the \u2063restaurant industry since the pandemic, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/corrupt-media-pollsters-are-using-dishonest-tactics-to-drag-america-into-war\/\" title=\"Corrupt Media Pollsters Are Using Dishonest Tactics To Drag America Into War\">current economic climate<\/a>, and the spike in violent crime have made it increasingly difficult \u2064to \u2064operate and impossible for us to survive. We \u2062have explored \u2064all\u2062 options, but regrettably, we have no choice \u2064but to \u2064close our doors.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The\u200d last day of \u200dservice for \u200dboth Brine locations, one on H Street and \u200cthe \u200dother in DuPont Circle, will\u200d be Saturday, November \u200c11.<\/p>\n<p>While \u200dthe closure of the \u200dDuPont location was\u2064 primarily due \u2064to financial reasons, according to\u2062 Fox 5, Aaron McGovern, the\u200b operator of the H Street\u200c restaurant, emphasized \u200dthe impact of crime on \u2063their \u200ddecision. In an interview, McGovern revealed, &#8220;We\u2019ve\u200c both\u200b been burglarized numerous times, \u2063both of my restaurants. Numerous times.\u2064 So has\u2063 everyone\u2062 on the block, numerous times. We \u2062started \u2062to see violence. Not just\u2064 &#8216;Oh,\u200b there\u2019s a\u2062 gunshot\u2063 a mile away. We could \u200dhear the bullets.&#8217; It&#8217;s\u2014the restaurant \u200bI\u2019m \u200blooking at right now had four shootings there four weeks ago.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Tragically, the neighboring\u2062 restaurant, Cru, located across H Street from Brine, \u200dwas the \u200csite of \u200da <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcwashington.com\/news\/local\/1-killed-3-hurt-in-shooting-at-h-street-nightclub\/3429696\/\">shooting<\/a> that resulted in one\u2062 fatality\u2062 and three injuries\u2062 on September 23.<\/p>\n<p>McGovern also\u200d called on local leaders to address the detrimental effects of rising crime \u200crates on \u2064businesses. He\u200d urged, &#8220;I think our leadership in government, local government should really take\u200c a look at the businesses. The\u2062 safety of the citizens. The\u200c well-being of\u2064 its \u2062taxpaying base and\u200b see that it\u2019s important because people will leave. They stop going out. They\u2019ll move \u2064out of the city, and you \u2064need \u200dto protect your citizens.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>As of\u2062 Thursday, violent crime in \u2062D.C. has <a href=\"https:\/\/mpdc.dc.gov\/page\/district-crime-data-glance\">increased<\/a> by a staggering 40 percent year-to-date since 2022, while property crime has risen by 25 percent in the same period.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s not just restaurants \u2063that\u200b have been affected by\u200b the crime wave in the nation&#8217;s capital. \u2064Even \u2064members \u2062of Congress have fallen victim. Just \u200dlast month, three armed assailants <a href=\"https:\/\/freebeacon.com\/latest-news\/carjacked-dem-rep-says-the-border-is-safer-than-the-nations-capital\/\">carjacked<\/a> Representative Henry Cuellar \u200c(D., Texas). Fortunately, the police were able \u200cto recover his car, phone, iPad, \u2062and even his sushi dinner.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> What role did\u200c operating costs, including ingredients, rent, utilities, and labor,\u2064 play in \u200cBrine&#8217;s decision to close?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  Constraints, the decision to close the H \u200cStreet location was also influenced by the increase in violent crime in the area. According \u200dto data from\u200d the \u2062Metropolitan Police Department, there has been a significant rise in violent\u200d crimes,\u200b including homicides, robberies, and assaults, in the H Street corridor \u200bin recent\u200b months.<\/p>\n<p>The \u2062owners of Brine expressed their concern for the safety of their staff and patrons, stating, &#8220;We cannot\u200c ignore the safety and well-being of our employees and customers. The current environment in this\u2064 neighborhood is simply not conducive to running a safe\u200b and successful business. We have made every effort to \u200bwork with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/president-trump-pledges-orderly-transition-of-power\/\" title=\"President Trump pledges orderly transition of power\">local law enforcement<\/a> and community leaders to address the issue, \u200cbut the situation continues to escalate.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Operating costs have also played a major role in the restaurant chain&#8217;s\u200c decision to \u2063close. The cost of ingredients, rent, utilities, and labor have all been steadily \u200bincreasing, putting a strain on the\u2064 business&#8217;s finances. Additionally, the ongoing labor shortage in the hospitality industry has made it difficult for Brine\u200d to maintain a sufficient staff \u200dto meet the demand.<\/p>\n<p>The closure\u2063 of Brine is not an\u2064 isolated\u200c incident in Washington, D.C. or the restaurant\u200d industry\u200b as a whole. Many businesses have struggled to \u200d<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/california-farmers-weigh-in-on-hardships-ahead-of-farm-bill-reauthorization\/\" title=\"California farmers express concerns about upcoming Farm Bill reauthorization.\">stay afloat amidst<\/a> the challenges posed by the COVID-19\u2062 pandemic and the surge in crime rates in \u2063certain areas. This has led to a wave of closures and layoffs, \u2063further\u2064 impacting \u200cthe \u200clocal economy.<\/p>\n<p>The closure of Brine is not only a\u2064 loss for the owners \u2063and \u200cemployees \u200dbut also for the community. The restaurant was\u200c a \u2064beloved gathering place for locals and\u200c visitors alike, known\u2062 for its high-quality \u2063seafood and welcoming atmosphere. Its closure reflects the broader\u200b struggles faced by businesses in Washington,\u200c D.C. and serves \u2064as a reminder of the urgent need for solutions\u200d to address the increase in crime rates and the financial challenges \u200cfaced by the restaurant industry.<\/p>\n<p>Local\u2063 residents and community leaders \u200bare \u200ccalling \u200cfor action to address the\u2062 root causes of the surge in crime. Enhanced law enforcement presence, improved community \u2064relations, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/dc-restaurant-chain-shuts-down-over-surge-in-violent-crime-costs\/\" title=\"DC Restaurant Chain Shuts Down Over Surge in Violent Crime, Costs\">targeted economic revitalization efforts<\/a>\u200c are just some of the proposed solutions. However, finding\u2064 long-term and sustainable solutions will require a concerted effort from \u2063all \u2064stakeholders, including local government,\u200c law enforcement,\u2064 business owners, and\u200d community members.<\/p>\n<p>In the meantime, \u200dthe closure of\u2064 Brine\u200d serves as\u2063 a stark reminder of the devastating impact of \u200ccrime and operating costs on local businesses. It symbolizes the\u200d struggles faced by not just one \u200drestaurant, but by many others in the city. The loss of Brine is a blow to the culinary scene in Washington, D.C. and a wake-up call for the community to come together and\u200b find solutions to these pressing issues.<\/p>\n<p>As Washington, D.C. grapples with this crisis, the\u2063 closure of Brine will serve as a lasting testament to the \u2064challenges faced\u200b by small businesses in the current economic\u200c and social climate. It is a call\u200d to action for all stakeholders to work together to \u200dcreate a safe and welcoming environment for businesses to thrive,\u200d ensuring that the \u200cvibrancy and\u2062 diversity of \u200dthe\u2062 city&#8217;s restaurant scene can\u2063 continue to flourish.<\/p>\n<p>Only then can \u200dwe hope to see the day when restaurants\u200c like Brine can once again open their doors and serve their delicious seafood\u2064 to a grateful community.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>(Alex Wong\/Getty Images) A Washington, D.C., restaurant chain announced its closure Thursday, citing a surge in violent crime and operating costs. &#8220;This decision was not an easy one,&#8221; read an Instagram post from the owners of Brine, which operates one seafood restaurant on H Street and another in DuPont Circle. &#8220;Unfortunately, the challenges of the<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2112,"featured_media":2096669,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[544],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2096668","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-free-beacon"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2096668","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2112"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2096668"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2096668\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2096669"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2096668"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2096668"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2096668"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}