Richmond kava bar closing its doors in June

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- A Richmond kava bar will officially close its doors on June 30 after soft opening in February 2024.

KavaClub, located at 1529 W. Main Street in Richmond, first opened with a vision the bar calls "simple": to create a unique and welcoming sober "third space" right here in Richmond, but has announced that its final day of operations will be Monday, June 30.

The news comes after the bar faced hurdles, especially with "how the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) interpreted and applied regulations," according to the bar.

"This wasn't an easy decision, and we explored every avenue to keep our doors open. Unfortunately, persistent regulatory challenges have made it unfeasible for us to continue operating the vibrant community space we all cherished."

They added that as a food additive, kava is a plant in the pepper family, which they saw reportedly "came with limitations on how we could serve it and even how we could communicate about our offerings."

The kava bar added that these restrictions made it harder to reach broader audienes and host events for sober groups within the Central Virginia community.

"As some of you may recall, a publicly covered cease and desist order really highlighted the challenges we faced in simply fulfilling our mission," they continued. "Despite our best efforts to work with them and adapt, these factors cumulatively hindered our ability to operate sustainably."

As Virginia's only kava bar, KavaClub emphasized that its closing means one less sober alternative for Virginian social engagement.

"Please know, our belief in the benefits of kava and the value of sober spaces remains as strong as ever," they said. "We've always been committed to providing a safe, high-quality product and a responsible environment for you."

KavaClub will be sharing further updated on their social media platforms regarding their closing as they near June 30.