Pittsburgh Bar Closing For Good After Nearby Shootings, Alcohol Ban

PITTSBURGH, PA — Ongoing violence around a South Side bar and an order from Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala to stop serving liquor has prompted the establishment's permanent closure.

Embr, located on South 18th Street a few blocks off of bustling - and sometimes hazardous - East Carson Street will not be reopening after two years in business. The move comes a month after Zappala prohibited the bar from selling alcohol following a shooting near it in which 26 shell casings were recovered.

Several shootings also occurred near the bar over the summer.

In a recent letter to Pittsburgh City Council president Theresa Kail Smith, Zappala wrote that there was no way to make the bar safe.

Embr's owners released the following statement on social media:

"This past summer, operating within the nighttime space has been especially challenging. In spite of our amazing staff ensuring the safety of everyone inside, and in-front of the building, going above and beyond to not only maintain a citation free bar, but keeping everyone safe as well.

"Unfortunately conditions on the South Side have made operating a nighttime business extremely
difficult. We have always taken the safety of our guests and staff as a priority. After consulting with our staff, the District Attorney's Office (and) local and state police, we have decided to close for good."