Challenges of Surging Crime and Costs Lead to Closure of 52 Businesses in a Blue City Last Year; Another One Nears Shutting Dow

Last Updated on January 10, 2024 by Robert C. Hoopes

Washington, D.C. Faces Wave of Restaurant Closures Amid Crime Surge and Rising Costs

Washington, D.C. is grappling with a concerning surge in crime and rising costs, which have resulted in the closure of numerous restaurants across the city. In a stark comparison, the year 2022 witnessed 52 restaurants shutting down, up from 48 closures in 2021 and 40 in 2020.

Businesses in the nation’s capital have been burdened by high insurance costs, decreased foot traffic, and declining revenues. According to a recent survey conducted by the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington, over one-third of D.C. restaurants reported experiencing lower foot traffic and sales compared to the previous year. Additionally, a staggering three-quarters of establishments are currently less profitable than their pre-pandemic levels.

The spike in crime, coupled with declining business, has inflicted a heavy toll on restaurants in the H Street area, previously a rapidly gentrifying neighborhood. D.C. ended 2023 with the highest number of homicides in 26 years, along with significant increases in robberies, thefts, and motor vehicle thefts.

Prominent dining establishments like Brine Oyster & Seafood House and Pursuit Wine Bar & Kitchen have been forced to shut their doors, attributing the challenges of the pandemic, the current economic climate, and the rise in violent crime as primary reasons for their closures. Some establishments have even fallen victim to multiple burglaries, resulting in substantial damage and stolen goods.

D.C. Harvest, a popular 9-year-old eatery, also succumbed to closure due to a changing neighborhood and a lack of customers. Business owners and industry experts foresee a trend of more D.C. businesses either relocating to Virginia or shutting down entirely, driven by the safer environment the neighboring state offers.

The closure of these businesses has not only affected the owners, but employees and customers as well, who now have to contend with the current climate of crime in downtown D.C. The ripple effect of these closures reverberates within the community, with job losses and a limited choice for dining options.

As the nation’s capital battles its crime wave, there is a pressing need for swift action and support to restore safety and stability to the city. Moreover, efforts must be made to alleviate the financial burdens faced by local businesses and restore their profitability, thus fostering a vibrant and resilient restaurant industry in Washington, D.C. that is crucial to its economic and cultural landscape.