One17 SofaBar in Greensboro will close temporarily due to fire, safety violations after fatal shooting

GREENSBORO, N.C. (WGHP) — A Greensboro bar is set to close temporarily due to fire and safety violations found following a fatal shooting, according to a statement released by the City of Greensboro on Thursday.

The full statement is provided below:

Upon an inspection by the Safety Review Team at 117 N. Greene Street (One17 SofaBar), Greensboro Fire identified several fire and life safety violations. Based on these violations, the business has been ordered to temporarily close. The business will remain closed until violations are cleared.

City of Greensboro

One person died and another is in critical condition after an early Sunday morning shooting outside One17 Sofa bar and lounge on North Greene Street.

The big question is: What steps are being taken to address safety concerns?

Over the last 12 months, there have been a total of 69 events. 911 dispatch responded to 117 N. Greene St. in downtown on Sunday around 2 a.m.

“There’s a guy that went too far. The guy went to his car and came to the front and was shooting at some guys,” a 911 caller said.

Of the 69 events 911 dispatch responded to at the bar, three were for the discharge of a firearm. This includes the most recent shooting early Sunday morning and two in September within two weeks of each other.

16 of the events dispatched to the bar were for disorderly subjects or crowds. Others include reports of suspicious people, vehicles or activity.

Downtown Greensboro Inc. President Zack Matheny knows about past calls to the address where One17 Sofa Bar and Lounge sits.

“Certainly not to this magnitude, but we have had calls of concern around that location,” he said.

Matheny says there are steps that can be taken to further address safety concerns surrounding incidents like this.