Troubled Southington Bar To Close For Good Wednesday

SOUTHINGTON, CT — A well-known local bar/restaurant in Southington that was the center of a violent incident in March is now closing.

The last day for 75 Center will be Wednesday, July 3, wrote the owners of the 75 Center St. eatery/nightspot via Facebook over the weekend.

No specific reason for the closure was announced, but the bar was in the news in late March after a violent brawl between bouncers and patrons resulted in arrests and a bar employee being seriously injured in a stabbing.

"Due to unfortunate circumstances, we are going to be locking our doors Wednesday, July 3rd for the last time," wrote 75 Center on Facebook.

"The staff invites all of you to come down, have a drink, share some laughs, and as always have a great time! We will be doing a toast at midnight to send it off right."

The bar thanked all of its customers over the years and its former employees, asking them to return for one last night to 75 Center.

75 Center earlier this year was in the news for more ominous reasons.

On March 23, it was the scene of a brutal fight and stabbing, which temporarily shuttered the operation before it reopened on April 5 with new security measures in place.

In the early morning of Saturday, March 23, police from Southington, Plainville, and Cheshire rushed to the 75 Center due to a fight and stabbing at the location.

According to police, a dispute within the bar escalated quickly after bouncers escorted the parties involved outside.

The subjects involved in the dispute, reportedly, turned on the bouncers and a wild melee ensued, resulting in two bouncers being stabbed by a 24-year-old Wallingford woman, according to the SPD.

She and two others in her party were charged in connection with the brawl and their cases are winding their way through the courts.

Meanwhile, one of the bouncers stabbed was seriously injured and is still recovering.

This prompted the state Department of Consumer Protection to suspend 75 Center's liquor permit, citing a history of incidents at the bar.

75 Center complied and, with a new security plan in place, it eventually reopened.

After the shutdown, 75 Center made several new changes for patrons of the bar, including a dress code, a new music format to "reflect our new atmosphere of fun," no weapons allowed, and mandatory security searches upon entering the establishment.

Meanwhile, the bar hired additional security personnel and is seeking both male and female bouncers to work.

Despite the changes, 75 Center officials ultimately made the decision to close its doors for good.

From March 24: 'Wallingford Woman, 24, Charged In Southington Bar Stabbing: Police'

From April 5: 'Southington Bar Set To Reopen After Wild Melee, Stabbing'

To see 75 Center's goodbye message and video, click on this link.