Downtown nightclub owner speaks out on permanent closure

After two separate shootings outside of Club XO caused concern, bar owners have decided to shut their doors for good.

Co-owner Jacob Wojcicki said he values people’s safety above making money – which is why the bar is being shut down.

“I know that there is pressure being applied to try to oust us, but we haven’t really done anything in order to warrant that I don’t think. We’ve tried our best in order to adhere to all the policies and all the requirements that are needed from us to operate, and it’s just not good enough,” he said.

According to Wojcicki, there is an immense amount of violence in the city that goes unreported.

“Whether it goes down the block or across the river or wherever it goes in the city, someone has to deal with the problems and it’s going to be pushed on someone else’s lap and …eventually there’s going to be another incident.”

There have been two shootings at Club XO since March, 2015 - both took place outside of the bar.

Wojcicki said efforts were made to change the clientele after the first shooting – adding they had no control over what takes place outside of the business.

“You’re a product of your clientele. A nightclub consists of who you’re bringing down, so I think if you change intrinsically then your clientele will change – and that will change your problems,” the co-owner explained.

“We have to see as a group where we’re going to go. The abrupt stoppage like this it definitely hurts – it hurts for sure,” he said.

The decision to close came after Edmonton police said they wanted the business license for Club XO suspended – applying for an emergency business license suspension following a shooting outside of the business last Saturday.

The City of Edmonton granted a 14 day business license suspension on Friday.

The general manager of restaurant that shares a building with the club told CTV News he’s happy to see those steps being taken, and said the violence would keep customers away and scare employees.

“I’m very happy they have taken some kind of measure to suspend their operations for now, close them down for a couple of weeks,” The Underground Tap and Grill general manager Kris Anthony said. “I would like to see them continue, but I would like to see their clientele change, less violent, more upbeat, more friendly.”

The closure means between 30 and 40 people have lost their jobs.

With files from Veronica Jubinville