Washington, D.C. – Local bar owners say business has taken a sharp downturn since President Donald Trump announced the federal takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). With an increased presence of police and federal agents in nightlife districts, bar owners report significant drops in sales and fear for the financial stability of their businesses.
Bars Report Severe Revenue Losses
At Crush Dance Bar on 14th and U Streets Northwest, co-owner Mark Rutstein described last Friday as catastrophic.
“Friday was the worst Friday in history,” Rutstein said. “We lost a little more than $15,000 that night.”
Rutstein explained that authorities set up checkpoints right outside his bar, stopping customers to check licenses, taillights, and seat belts. With immigration and homeland security officials nearby, many potential patrons avoided the area altogether.
“These last few days have been the worst sales we’ve had since we opened,” he added, noting that the heavy police presence has kept foot traffic away.
Owners Fear Long-Term Impact
The financial pressure has left Rutstein worried about the future. “This is something that I can’t control, so that’s why it swims in my head and panic. Just trying to figure out what the end of the month is going to look like,” he said. “Three more weeks of this? I mean, we’re talking about a couple hundred grand.”
David Perruzza, owner of Pitchers and A League of Her Own in Adams Morgan, shared similar concerns. His bars have not seen federal agents stationed outside, but turnout has still been alarmingly low.
“It’s been miserable,” Perruzza said. “We saw a decline in sales by $7,000 on Friday. Right now, it’s a ghost town.”
He stressed that if sales don’t recover, keeping staff employed and paying bills could soon become impossible.
District-Wide Decline
The drop in business is not isolated to a few establishments. According to an analysis of OpenTable data by WUSA9, online reservations at D.C. restaurants fell by more than 30% just two days after Trump announced emergency control of MPD.
The numbers highlight the widespread financial strain on the hospitality industry, which depends heavily on weekend crowds.
Trying to Push Through
Despite the challenges, Perruzza urged residents to continue living their lives as normally as possible. “Really, I think the only thing we can do is just live our lives like normal and not let it affect us, even though it’s going to,” he said. “It’s hard to say that, but I feel like that’s the only way we can protect other people.”
Uncertain Weeks Ahead
With the federal policing initiative still unfolding, D.C. bar and restaurant owners say they are bracing for more losses if the situation doesn’t change. For now, many hope the sharp decline in nightlife is only temporary, but with each passing weekend, the financial toll is becoming harder to absorb.
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