CARBONDALE, Ill. (HEARTLAND NEWS) - A Carbondale event venue and nightclub is temporarily closing its doors after management described weeks of ongoing disturbances. Management of Indigo Event Space and Lounge says the decision for the weeklong closure was sparked by a recent deadly act of gun violence in a nearby parking lot behind its venue.
“So we just wanted to stay, take a step back and have a break, you know, and allow people to clear their minds, have time to, you know, to grieve,” Unree Westley said.
That incident claimed the life of one man and sent another to the hospital. Management says the venue was not involved in the incident, as they say it happened at a nearby church parking lot.
Management called it disheartening to see people continue partying while the situation unfolded nearby. Westley, with Indigo Event Space and Lounge, shared his concerns about the response.
“At the end of the day, with everything that was going on, you would’ve felt like it would’ve been more cared for a person because what if that was your family member back there? Would you want people to still have disregard for their, for, for them? You know what I’m saying?” Westley said. “So it was like, man, why would you continue to party, continue to, you know, just dance.”
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The business says it plans to use the closure to evaluate future safety measures. Westley says they are exploring options to enhance security.
“This was just a one off and at this time, a situation that happened. So we are looking into having conversations, maybe, maybe we can have some officers sitting on the parking lot or some stuff like that,” Westley said. “But you know, at the end of the day, we are just trying to find ways to make sure that things do change.”
Management says it maintains a zero-tolerance policy for violence and is asking patrons to help create a safer environment when the venue reopens. Westley emphasized the venue’s commitment to safety for all guests.
“We are here for the same thing you are. And that’s for people to come and go as they came,” Westley said. “So come, come safe, leave safe, go home safe. That’s what this is all about. That’s what Indigo is about.”
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