Mississauga nightclub closed by city after five shootings will remain temporarily shuttered

Her, a nightclub in Mississauga temporarily closed by the City after a rash of gun violence on site, will remain closed since one of their reopening conditions renders the business “unsustainable.”

Most of the conditions are in regard to securing the club, Her management says. However, one provision would only allow the club to open from 10:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

This leaves seven operating hours in a week, Her management said, “With over 50 employees, in addition to the substantial overhead of operating a large venue in a professional and secure manner, this limitation leads to a guaranteed financial loss.”

Her has been shut down since September 9 following the fifth eruption of gunfire in the last few months near the nightclub. Shots cracked the night of September 3, shortly after 3 a.m., striking two men. One of the victims suffered critical injuries.

This was the latest in a long line of violent events at the club so far this year. Peel Region Police has responded to “dozens” of incidents at Her since January, including the five shootings.

Shots had previously been fired on June 24, though no one was hurt in this instance. Shots also rang out days prior on June 19, though again no injuries were reported.

Following the fifth shooting, police issued a warning about “heightened risks” at Her on August 12, saying “The elevated police resources allocated to responding to calls for service at this establishment impact our ability to respond to other priority calls promptly.”

Following that the City shut Her down by temporarily suspending their licence until September 22. On the suspension Mayor Bonnie Crombie said, “As a City, we are doing what is within our power and jurisdiction to address the ongoing safety concerns and help keep our residents safe.”

The latest announcement from Her come to days before the suspension’s end.

Her management said they have endeavored to improve since their 2019 opening, increasing staff and updating safety protocols. “We have, and always will, work hand-in-hand with the authorities to keep the premises clear of danger.”

They report they have not experienced any shootings, firearms or “threatening incidents” inside the club itself. Management said they have twice requested and been denied hiring a paid duty officer to keep a police presence in the plaza outside.

This plaza on 1325 Eglinton Ave is also home to more than ten other businesses, venues and restaurants.

“We do not condone these acts of violence,” Her management said, “Even though these incidents happened outside of business hours, we are deeply saddened by the accidents, and are actively seeking opportunities to address the underlying issues.”

Given the restriction on their operating hours, Her will remain closed while they appeal the condition. “We look forward to opening soon,” they said.