A GoFundMe has been launched for the staff at popular Brooklyn, NY metal bar/venue Saint Vitus. That venue was effectively shutdown by the NYC Department Of Buildings during a February 17th concert headlined by Mindforce. Its doors have remained closed since as they work to remedy the situation.
The temporary closure was issued after the venue allegedly violated several codes, including a lack of maximum occupancy signs, allegedly repeatedly going over their allotted maximum capacity and more. A number of shows booked at the venue have since been rescheduled elsewhere, while the staff have unfortunately been left to fend for themselves.
The following was said alongside this new crowdfunding campaign:
“Hello, my name’s Jim Carroll and I work as a bartender at Saint Vitus Bar in Brooklyn. As many of you may know the venue was recently shut down by the Department of Buildings due to circumstances outside of the staff’s control. As the owners try to remedy this and get the establishment open again the bar, door, production and sound staff are left without income for an indefinite period of time.
The bar staff relies heavily on tips from the patrons that come to the shows and events at the venue. The production staff depend on the doors being open and there being shows and events in general. Unemployment is an option for some but not all. With the venue doors closed we’re left to scramble at an already slow time of the year.
This goal is a projection of what the staff is losing out on over the month of March and what we’ve already lost in February. A reopening is unclear and will probably go well beyond this point. Whatever is raised will go 100% to the staff (with the exception of any taxes and fees) to help them with rent, bills, and the high cost of living in nyc. This is not to raise money for the bar to get its doors back open. Also, if anyone has any employment/gig opportunities send them our way!
Hopefully see you all again soon!”
You can contribute via GoFundMe.