Hello, Goodbye: The District VT Closes Weeks After Rebrand

ArtsRiot in 2020 Credit: Melissa Pasanen ©️ Seven Days

File under “Alas, we hardly knew you.”

The District VT, the Burlington restaurant and venue formerly known as ArtsRiot, announced via social media on Wednesday that it was closing. The news caps a turbulent period for the business, which had rebranded as the District VT just weeks earlier.

“After doing everything we could to push through an increasingly challenging landscape, The District VT (formerly ArtsRiot) has been forced to close its doors effective immediately,” the club’s social media post reads. “As a result, we we will be canceling all upcoming performances and halting all future booking activity.”

The South End venue has been in a constant state of flux since original owners PJ McHenry and Felix Wai sold the business to Higher Ground co-owner Alan Newman in July 2020. Newman, who also cofounded Seventh Generation and Magic Hat Brewing, attempted to transform ArtsRiot into a distillery in 2022 with a new line of canned cocktails, but the project never came to fruition. By that summer, a public relations firm retained by the New Hampshire-based Pink Fox Group announced that Newman had “stepped down.”

The group reopened ArtsRiot in March 2024 under the supervision of chef-manager Matthew Wagner. The club began hosting live music again, though shows were reportedly plagued by cancellations, staffing issues and other operational problems. Rebranding as the District VT seemed to signal a new era for the venue, which had a full schedule of entertainment booked through May and into June, including music, comedy and dance nights.

“This decision was not made lightly,” the statement on the club’s closing continues. “We know how much time, energy, and artistry goes into preparing for a show, and we deeply regret the impact this has on you, your team and the community. Please know we are immensely grateful for your support and for being part of the vibrant creative community we have in BTV.”

The social media statement did not disclose a reason for the closure. Neither the District VT nor Pink Fox Group responded to multiple requests by Seven Days for comment.