Riggers Loft Wine Company shut its doors for good last weekend in the wake of what the owners described as an “awful” legal fight with the city.
On social media, co-owner Barbara Brown said last weekend was their final one in business at the WWII-era warehouse at 1325 Canal Blvd. She thanked the Richmond community for supporting the business, and said the friendships made there were the most meaningful legacy.
The Browns said their efforts to appeal a March court ruling that terminated their lease rights at the property were futile.
“We still believe our case against the unlawful detainer was strong,” Barbara Brown stated. “However, the uncertainty of jury trials and the timing of eviction mean that even a legal victory would come too late to save the business. So we end this chapter and say a sad goodbye to everyone.”
The Browns publicly blamed the Richmond Progressive Alliance members on City Council for pushing them out of the property they’d occupied for about a decade.
According to the city, it initiated legal proceedings to recover roughly $400,000 in unpaid rent and to address alleged lease violations, claiming it had made “multiple efforts to find a resolution.”
“These actions are necessary to ensure the fair management of public assets and maintain the financial sustainability of the Port, which relies on lease payments to fund operations, maintenance, and improvements,” the city said.
Kevin and Barbara Brown, as well as allies of the business including former Mayor Tom Butt, contend that the city exaggerated the debt they incurred during the COVID shutdown, reneged on a negotiated repayment plan and neglected property maintenance. They described it as a protracted strategy by city leadership, namely RPA members, to force the business out for political motives. The Browns assert they poured millions into restoring the historic warehouse.
In its statement in March, the city said it “remains committed to fostering a strong business community while ensuring that all tenants operate under fair and equitable terms.”
With Riggers Loft’s decade-long run now over, the Browns say they will shift focus to their music and family.