Iconic Brooklyn metal bar Saint Vitus shuttered over building violation: ‘We’re shell-shocked’
An iconic Brooklyn venue that has become a staple of the city’s once-vibrant hardcore music scene has been shuttered indefinitely after building department inspectors slapped it with a violation Friday night during a live band’s show.
Saint Vitus Bar in Greenpoint shut down in the middle of a set by hardcore band Mindforce with staff ushering patrons and band members out after building inspectors found it was illegally operating as a bar.
“We’re shell-shocked,” one of the owners told a Post reporter who knocked on the establishment’s door Monday. “We’ve been here 13 years so we’re still processing. But we’re trying to expedite everything.”
The bar owner, who declined to give his name, said he and his partners are working with the proper authorities to get the beloved venue back up and running as soon as possible.
“We are saddened and deeply frustrated by the circumstances and are working to remedy the situation as fast as we can,” Saint Vitus Bar later posted on its Instagram. “The closure is temporary, but we want to address everything that directly affects our community of artists and fans alike.”
A slew of bands who had upcoming performances at the Manhattan Avenue bar were left scrambling to find new venues to switch their shows to. Saint Vitus staff have been helping the bands book new venues and assisting ticket holders.
Building inspectors showed up Friday night in response to more than a dozen 311 complaints and found about 250 people in the space, said a spokesperson for the NYC Buildings Department.
The inspectors determined that the bar was illegally operating as an eating and drinking establishment when the building’s certificate of occupancy designated the space only for a commercial store and for the storage of machinery, according to the Buildings Department.
The DOB issued the business a violation and noted that it did not issue any vacate order.
“As a result of our inspection, we issued a violation to the property owner for operating the unpermitted place of assembly, contrary to the legal occupancy of the building,” a spokesperson for the department told The Post. “During our inspection, DOB did not issue a Vacate Order at the building. The building can still be occupied.”
The DOB issued Saint Vitus Bar a violation for the same issue in July but the property owners never corrected the issue, according to the department.
Online building records show 16 complaints about the bar’s lack of the proper certificate of occupancy dating back to May — though all the complaints appear to be coming from one person.
“I will continue to make this complaint on a daily basis until either the Department of Buildings performs an inspection or until Saint Vitus Bar can remedy their situation,” several of the complaints state.
A neighboring business owner told The Post she suspects that the complainant was annoyed by the venue’s loud music and its customers who sometimes crowd the sidewalk, smoke weed and leave trash behind.
But another neighbor said the typical crowd who attends shows at the venue are a harmless and accepting bunch, despite their hardcore looks.
“I’ve seen all kinds of punks and weirdos at it and even if they look like they might be skinheads you look closer and they have trans lives matter patches,” she said.
Rita, 44, who owns a store nearby and declined to provide her last name, said she had no problem with the bar other than its patrons sometimes blocking the door to her business.
“The security guards outside always watched out for us and would say, ‘Hey, watch out for that door’ and keep them from blocking our storefront,” she said.
She learned Saint Vitus Bar had shuttered when she came into work Monday.
“It’s sad to hear,” Rita said. “That’s not my type of music but people actually enjoy it. So it’s sad. The owner is super nice. He doesn’t look like he’s a troublemaker.”
She said that she doesn’t know who called on the bar, but added that there are apartments with tenants right above the loud music venue in the same building.
Other Greenpoint residents told The Post they were disappointed by bar’s temporary closing.
A 36-year-old neighbor who’s lived in the neighborhood for five years and been to shows at Saint Vitus said the violation “sounds like some bulls–t.”
“When they open back up and they probably will, I’ll have to go to a show again,” he said.
City Council Member Keith Powers said he’s been in touch with the bar’s owners to help them sort through the paperwork issues.
“One of the best independent music venues in New York City,” he said in a statement. “We’re going to fight to keep it open.”
