The Boiler Room, located at 108B W North St., and owned by Vivian Howard and Ben Knight will not be reopening when the local restaurants and businesses are able to open their doors to the public.

“It’s so sad,” said Amber Best, an employee of The Boiler Room. “It’s heartbreaking because that’s our livelihood. I’m going to miss seeing my regulars walk in the door and seeing all of my coworkers faces when I come in for a shift. Kinston needs someplace like The Boiler Room. When you walk in it’s like everyone is family. And I’m going to miss that.”

The Boiler Room was an attractive feature of the Kinston nightlife with a 4.5 review on Yelp and many positive comments throughout social media.

According to Pride of Kinston, the downtown revitalization organization, “It is with heartfelt disappointment that we learn today that our beloved Boiler Room Restaurant in downtown Kinston has announced it is permanently closed. A popular spot for locals and visitors, we have all enjoyed the oysters, burgers, and brews with family, friends and strangers. The Boiler Room added a special funky big city vibe to Kinston’s revitalized downtown, complimenting perfectly the mix of other new, entrepreneurial spirited businesses in what has arguably become the entertainment district of downtown.”

Attempts to reach management have been unsuccessful thus far.