Saint Vitus Bar Launches GoFundMe for Staff

The legendary Saint Vitus bar has been in headlines when they were abruptly shut down last month, and now the Brooklyn, NY bar has started a GoFundMe for the impacted staff.

Launched by bartender Jim Carroll, the crowdfunding effort seeks to raise enough money to cover a month of lost wages for those that work at the bar. The GoFundMe specifically points out that it’s not to help the bar/venue reopen, but only to help those in need.

“As the owners try to remedy this and get the establishment open again the bar, door, production and sound staff are left without income for an indefinite period of time.

“The bar staff relies heavily on tips from the patrons that come to the shows and events at the venue. The production staff depend on the doors being open and there being shows and events in general. Unemployment is an option for some but not all. With the venue doors closed we’re left to scramble at an already slow time of the year.”

You may recall that near the end of last month, the venue was shut down on a Friday night by officials from the NYC Department of Buildings. Mindforce was in the middle of a show when that whole thing went down, forcing everyone inside to vacate the building.

Since that incident, shows have been moved to other venues while the bar figures things out. According to the crowdfunding campaign, it’s unclear when the bar will open, so they hope to raise enough to keep everyone affected whole.

“A reopening is unclear and will probably go well beyond this point. Whatever is raised will go 100% to the staff (with the exception of any taxes and fees) to help them with rent, bills, and the high cost of living in nyc. This is not to raise money for the bar to get its doors back open. Also, if anyone has any employment/gig opportunities send them our way!

“Hopefully see you all again soon!”