Denny’s, a 54-year-old Democratic-owned restaurant in Oakland, Calif., closed permanently Wednesday due to widespread crime in the area.
Hegenbergerstrasse location shut The opening was at 1 p.m., and a sign on the front door said the restaurant chain hopes to meet customers at other locations in the Bay Area, KTVU reported.
The newspaper cited car break-ins, robberies and violent criminal activity at the restaurant.
Due to crime concerns, @DennysDiner on Hegenberger will be closing permanently today, the last restaurant to close @Oakland.5:30pm, 6:30pm @KTVU pic.twitter.com/oacftUflZa
— Henry K. Lee (@henrykleeKTVU) January 31, 2024
Regular customer Jeff Lee, who frequents the diner with his relatives, said he will have to go elsewhere in the future.
“It’s terrible that Auckland is like this. This is probably the oldest store on the block and it’s closing. It’s sad.”
Denny’s isn’t the only restaurant in the area to be hit by crime. According to Breitbart News, Oakland’s only In-N-Out Burger is set to close soon.
In a recent statement, In-N-Out Burger Chief Operating Officer Denny Wernick said:
Despite repeated steps to create a safer environment, our customers and employees are regularly victimized by vehicle break-ins, property damage, theft and armed robbery. His last day of business in Auckland will be March 24, 2024.
We would like to thank our local community for supporting us for over 18 years and recognize the negative impact this closure has had on our employees and their families. Additionally, while this location remains a busy and profitable location for the company, our top priority is the safety and well-being of our customers and employees, and we do not require our customers or employees to visit or work in a hazardous environment. I can not do it.
According to Breitbart News, in May 2023, hundreds of Oakland residents called on city officials during a community safety meeting to take steps to address rising crime.
One neighbor who attended the event said residents were “victims of a failed progressive utopia.”
It’s important to note that Oakland police are urging residents to use air horns as a warning method in case they are victimized by criminals, Breitbart News reported in August 2023. .
