01 Oct ‘A Richmond Gem’: Riggers Loft Closes After Rent Dispute With City

Hundreds of guests fill the Riggers Wine Loft tasting room during the 2019 Taste of Richmond food and wine event. (Brittany Hosea-Small / CC Pulse file)

By Malcolm Marshall

Riggers Loft, the wine bar and event space on the Richmond waterfront, closed its doors this past weekend. The venue, housed in a converted shipyard building at the Port of Richmond, had become a hub for live music, local winemakers and community events over the past nine years.

Owners Barbara and Kevin Brown announced the closure in a Facebook post, expressing both sadness and gratitude.

“With great sadness, this last weekend was our last,” the post began. “But, as I said to a dear friend, as sad as this moment is, there are a couple of things that Kevin and I can truly celebrate. One is that we were able to share this gorgeous spot with the Richmond (and greater) community, and to provide a place where so many lovely memories were made by so many people. The other, and the most important, is the friendships forged at Riggers Loft. It has meant the world to us.”

The couple said they were thankful for patrons who supported them over the years, particularly through legal battles with the city. Riggers Loft had been in an ongoing dispute with the city of Richmond, which began over the nonpayment of deferred rent during the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown.

“Kevin and I extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported us over the years, particularly through the last several years as we fought a city council bent on destroying businesses that attract people to Richmond,” the post continued. “It was an awful fight, but one we were not able to overcome. We wish it could have ended differently but the city had the power, the resources and the final word. We still believe our case against the unlawful detainer was strong. 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 city, in a statement earlier this year, said the business owed nearly $400,000 in back rent as of late last year. “The City has made multiple efforts to find a resolution, but due to continued non-payment and other lease violations, the SPA has filed two unlawful detainer cases seeking to reclaim the property,” the statement read, referring to the city Surplus Property Authority. “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.”

Called a “Richmond gem” by many residents, Riggers Loft brought together several boutique wineries, a cidery and a tasting room under one roof. It hosted local jazz bands, food trucks and community celebrations, drawing visitors from across the Bay Area. The large indoor and outdoor space, with sweeping views of the bay, also became a favorite spot for weddings.

For lifelong Richmond resident and Pulse contributor Mitzi Perez-Caro, who got married at Riggers Loft in 2022, the closure is bittersweet.

“For me, my priority was to bring our guests to see all the reasons we love Richmond,” she said of why she chose it as her wedding venue. “We encouraged visiting guests to explore the city and our favorite spots in Richmond. My grandparents at the time were also getting older … so we wanted to be able to have them present. If it were any further, they wouldn’t be there.”

Looking ahead, the Browns said they plan to focus on their personal lives.

“As for Kevin and me… we are going to take this opportunity to create the next chapter in our lives … concentrating on our music, and on our family … the things that have sustained us throughout all this tumult the last several years.”