The last two Thursdays of the wildly popular House Night series at The Congregation in Detroit’s Boston Edison neighborhood have been canceled due to parking and safety issues. Meanwhile, the resident DJ is hosting a similar event at a different location.
Co-owner of the coffee shop and managing partner, Betsy Murdoch, said that illegally parked cars and unauthorized food trucks and vendors created safety concerns.
“It deeply saddens us to cancel the two remaining House Nights in 2024, but we believe this step is necessary to ensure we can address the existing challenges effectively,” she said in a press release. “We remain dedicated to the safety and well-being of our community and are committed to preserving the spirit of House Night.”
This was the fifth year that The Congregation hosted free “House Nights” on Thursdays during the summer featuring local DJs, food trucks and drink specials. In June, Eater Detroit profiled the rising popularity of the event that drew a packed crowd to the lawn every Thursday.
The news, announced by The Congregation Thursday in an Instagram post, drew a number of comments from the public expressing disappointment and sadness.
Local resident Melissa Anderson, who has attended the house nights for four years and attended every house night of the 2024 summer, said there were never issues until the police began showing up.
“It is truly upsetting the way the police targeted this event,” she said in a post to Instagram.
A Detroit police officer said they did not shut down The Congregation in a statement to BridgeDetroit.
“That was their own decision to do what they did, it’s not a police matter,” they said.
John Spears, a promoter and resident DJ for the event, said in an Instagram post a week ago that he and the Congregation were forced to discontinue the series after attempting to comply with city regulations.
“We have made every attempt possible to meet guidelines,and adhere to protocol set forth by the fire marshal, and DPD,” the post read. “This by far is not a blemish on our patrons, nor the community we have grown to love, support and cherish! Once we are able to sort this matter out and reinvent our approach, we will make further public announcements! Once again, thank you for your continued support, love for the event, and our community.”
In the meantime, Spears is hosting a Thursday house night at The Shadow Gallery in the Eastern Market district, a bar and rooftop patio, with “same Thursday vibes, alternate location.”
The Detroit Police Department and fire department were not immediately available for comment.
