Troubled waters in the Flats: Bar closures mount after September shooting

• The news follows Margaritaville announcing it has closed for the winter for the first time since the venue opened in 2017.

Between the lines: Margaritaville, which has a tropical theme, cited slower business during the winter and plans to reopen at a yet-to-be-announced date this spring.

What they're saying: It's a different story for Inferno and Rum Runners, which were owned by Sly Restaurant Group.

• "The decision was carefully made after evaluation of our operations and the economic pressures currently affecting the hospitality and nightlife industry," the group wrote in a statement on Facebook.

State of play: The area near Old River Road has struggled since a September shooting injured six people outside of Play Bar and Grill.

• Flats East Development LLC terminated the bar's lease.

Natalie Cockburn, who co-owns nearby Cocky Bagels on Old River Road, last month told Axios business had been down 40% since the shooting.

• "I'm sure every business owner was hurt by this," Cockburn said. "We rely on people planning a night in the Flats and now they're planning on avoiding it."

What's next: Cockburn said she's hoping for a "fresh start" in 2026, when Cocky's expands with an event space in a vacant storefront next door.