{"id":722985,"date":"2026-06-08T12:02:17","date_gmt":"2026-06-08T12:02:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/722985\/"},"modified":"2026-06-08T12:02:17","modified_gmt":"2026-06-08T12:02:17","slug":"nightclubs-at-risk-of-disappearing-forever-in-aftermath-of-crime-wave","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/722985\/","title":{"rendered":"Nightclubs at risk of \u2018disappearing forever\u2019 in aftermath of crime wave"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Along the Yarra River, the row of hospitality venues is finally starting to show signs of life.<\/p>\n

Left Bank, a restaurant and bar in Southbank, is abuzz with the Friday night pre-match footy crowd. Food and drink are half-price until 6pm. There\u2019s a DJ in the corner playing lounge tunes.<\/p>\n

\"Jordan,Jordan, who has worked as a DJ in nightclubs for more than a decade, says that the industry is struggling. Joe Armao<\/p>\n

Only a month ago, two teenagers were arrested allegedly moments before\u00a0trying to set this venue alight.<\/a> The business escaped unscathed \u2013 but its next-door neighbour didn\u2019t fare as well.<\/p>\n

Soho Bar and Restaurant was closed for weeks after an arson attack on April 17.<\/a> Tables and chairs were stacked haphazardly, and the building was pitch black. Scorch marks remained on the metal pillars outside. The bar was only able to reopen on Saturday.<\/p>\n

Almost 20 venues within the Melbourne\u2019s CBD and its immediate surrounds have been targeted in the unpredictable slew of crimes that began targeting hospitality venues in late March.<\/p>\n

The incidents \u2013 including firebombings, drive-by shootings, kidnappings and burglaries \u2013 rose in frequency before halting suddenly in mid-May. Reports of fresh blazes have slowly dropped away from the daily news cycle, but those embedded in the industry have been left to pick up the pieces.<\/p>\n

\"MultipleMultiple venues in Southbank were impacted by the crime wave that targeted Melbourne hospitality venues. Getty Images<\/p>\n

Workers within Melbourne\u2019s nightlife scene say that their industry is in desperate need of support, after the highly publicised crime spree placed added pressure on an already struggling community.<\/p>\n

DJ Flexi J, real name Jordan, has performed at clubs for almost a decade. He regularly plays at Left Bank, as well as other targeted venues like The Emerson and Bar Bambi.<\/a><\/p>\n

He says that Melbourne\u2019s bar and club scene is in a perpetual state of struggle \u2013 and the crime spree to which they\u2019ve most recently been victim is just the latest in a line of tribulations for performers like him.<\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of us have had hours cut back \u2026 due to what\u2019s been happening at the moment. A lot of us are on edge too. We don\u2019t know [if] we\u2019re going to be targeted next. If we\u2019re in danger,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

\"SohoSoho Restaurant and Bar was set alight in April. The venue reopened in early June.AAP<\/p>\n

The DJ is particularly frustrated with the state government and local council, who he says haven\u2019t done their part in supporting entertainment venues. High liquor licensing fees and rising insurance costs are among his biggest gripes.<\/p>\n

Paired with the cost-of-living crisis, which is pushing patrons to spend less at venues, he says that many businesses are struggling financially. Even a club that appears to be bursting at the seams might be actually paddling like a duck under the surface.<\/p>\n

Related Article\"Fire<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter how many people go in \u2026 a lot of venues are at risk of disappearing forever,\u201d Jordan says.<\/p>\n

Last Friday, Victoria Police announced that it had searched seven properties and made two arrests in connection to the spate of crimes known as the bar wars \u2013 which has been assigned a dedicated Operation Eclipse taskforce.<\/p>\n

Police have now connected 35 incidents to the crime spree \u2013 which has resulted in 65 people being arrested and charged with 370 offences. But there are still major questions surrounding why the attacks are happening and who is responsible.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have dozens of investigators and intelligence analysts working on identifying and commissioning these crimes, so we can best target those who are causing the greatest harm in our community,\u201d Detective Inspector Graham Banks said in a statement.<\/p>\n

Across town near Chapel Street, another cluster of venues is dealing with the aftermath of the targeted crime wave. At The Emerson in South Yarra, remnants of fire damage<\/a> are minor, but obvious if you\u2019re looking for it. Once you\u2019re upstairs at the popular rooftop bar, it\u2019s as if there hasn\u2019t been an attack at all.<\/p>\n

Management placed two shipping containers in front of the venue\u2019s entrance in an apparent attempt to ward off drive-by shootings at the height of the attacks. Tonight, the street is free of barricades.<\/p>\n

\"ShippingShipping containers outside South Yarra venue The Emerson in May.Luis Enrique Ascui<\/p>\n

An hour after opening, it\u2019s still relatively empty. An older couple is sitting in a booth. Two younger customers order drinks at the bar. It\u2019s happy hour until 11pm, and popular cocktails are $9.<\/p>\n

One patron says he\u2019s a regular here, and tonight has arrived early to watch the AFL. He\u2019s aware that the venue was recently targeted, but says he isn\u2019t too worried because no crimes have taken place during opening hours.<\/p>\n

But the recent incidents have made him wonder what might happen when the club closes its doors. \u201cIt\u2019s a different vibe \u2026 you call an Uber, and it\u2019s like, \u2018Am I safe to stand outside?\u2019 I don\u2019t know,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

\"ThereThere have been dozens of arson and attempted arson attacks on venues, including at Electric Bar on Chapel Street.Chris Hopkins<\/p>\n

Another DJ based in Melbourne, who didn\u2019t wish to be identified, regularly performs around the corner at Electric Bar, which was ram-raided on May 4<\/a>. He is certain that the recent spate of crimes has had an impact on clubs across the city.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s kicked an already down industry \u2026 I feel like an industry that\u2019s already really struggling to be successful has got kicked in the teeth again,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll those years ago, the biggest problem was fights on King Street between people. Now venues are getting specifically targeted, for whatever reason, and it doesn\u2019t really make sense.\u201d<\/p>\n

Related Article\"Melbourne\u2019s<\/a><\/p>\n

A photographer, who also wished to remain anonymous, agrees that times are tough. He has worked full-time in the industry for four years\u2013 mainly at private events \u2013 but he\u2019s had experience in nightclubs too.<\/p>\n

He says that the financial state of many venues has stalled to the point where photographers are getting paid half of what they once were or shifts are being cancelled.<\/p>\n

The photographer describes a \u201ctransactional relationship\u201d with nightclub managers, where creatives are willing to overlook the lower pay to secure the guaranteed weekly income a nightclub photography gig can provide.<\/p>\n

Measures to try to financially support the city\u2019s nightlife scene include a $10 million Hospitality Security Fund<\/a>, announced by the state government on May 12, which aims to provide eligible venues with increased security measures like CCTV, security doors and alarms.<\/p>\n

The opening date of the scheme is yet to be confirmed and there is limited detail available to businesses. DJs like Flexi J question how much tangible support the program will be able to provide.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis new package is another way that we\u2019re supporting businesses with safety measures \u2013 while Victoria Police are on the case,\u201d Minister for Small Business Natalie Suleyman said at the time.<\/p>\n

Amid concern for the future viability of their industry \u2013 DJs and photographers describe a scene that they are passionate about maintaining.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat would help fix the scene \u2026 is people banding together and just going out. Not even for a drink, but just to support,\u201d the DJ from Electric Bar says.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese are local businesses as well \u2026 [we need to] bring the community together to show that these attacks won\u2019t stop us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Start the day with a summary of the day\u2019s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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\"GemmaGemma Grant<\/a> is a city reporter at The Age. Contact her securely on Signal at gemmagrant.88Connect via email<\/a>.From our partners<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":722986,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[64,63,44],"class_list":["post-722985","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-australia","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/722985","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=722985"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/722985\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/722986"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=722985"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=722985"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=722985"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}