Denny’s shut down its restaurant in Oakland Wednesday, joining the plethora of businesses that have closed in the area due to rising crime.
The Denny’s permanently shut down at 1:00 p.m. following a crime surge in California, Fox2 KTVU reported. Signage left on the door of the restaurant, which had a reputation for being “always open,” cited safety concerns as the reason for its closure, according to the outlet.
“Closing a restaurant is never an easy decision or one taken lightly,” the statement on the sign read. “However, the safety and well-being of our Denny’s team members and valued guests is our top priority.”
Citing crime concerns, @DennysDiner on Hegenberger shut down for good today, the latest restaurant to close in @oakland. 5:30,6:30 p.m. @KTVU pic.twitter.com/oacftUflZa
— Henry K. Lee (@henrykleeKTVU) January 31, 2024
Employees were informed of the restaurant’s closure after 54 years in operation on Tuesday, which left many in tears, the outlet reported. The Denny’s location experienced car break-ins, robberies and violent crime, the outlet reported. (RELATED: Crime-Ridden County’s Prison Population Has Plummeted Under Soros-Backed Prosecutor)
Disappointed customers spoke to the outlet as they purchased their final meal from the shuttered location.
“Terrible that Oakland’s like this,” Jeff Lee, a weekly customer, said. “This is probably the oldest business on the block, and it’s closing down. It’s sad.”
This is not the first major fast-food restaurant to close its Oakland location amid the state’s crime wave. In-N-Out Burger’s sole location in the crime-ridden city announced on Jan. 21 that it will close its popular Oakland restaurant on March 24 as a result of “ongoing issues with crime.”
Businesses in downtown Oakland have hired private security and asked employees to stay inside as crime in the city worsens. Violent crime in Oakland surged 21% from 2022 to 2023, according to Oakland crime statistics. Robberies increased 38% and burglaries rose 23% as the city recorded 120 homicides.