MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) — Silk on Water announced Friday that it is temporarily closing its downtown Milwaukee location, citing concerns about shootings, gun violence and other public safety issues in the Water Street and Juneau Avenue entertainment district.

The business, located at 144 E. Juneau Ave., said the closure is effective immediately and is intended to protect employees and customers.

"This is a decision we never wanted to make, but there comes a point when you have to put people ahead of business," the company said. "Our employees matter. Our customers matter. Their safety comes before revenue."

Silk on Water said it has invested significant resources in security at its establishment but believes private security alone cannot address violence or disorder occurring throughout the surrounding entertainment district.

"We can control what happens inside our establishment and immediately around our property. We cannot control what happens several doors down, across the street or as our employees and customers walk to their cars," the company said. "No individual business can solve a public safety problem that extends throughout an entertainment district."

The company said the temporary closure is not an abandonment of downtown Milwaukee and that it hopes the decision emphasizes what it sees as an urgent need to address public safety concerns affecting businesses, residents, employees and visitors.

"We want downtown Milwaukee to succeed, and we want to be part of that success," the company said. "But a vibrant entertainment district begins with people believing they can come downtown, enjoy themselves and get home safely."

Silk on Water is calling on the City of Milwaukee, Milwaukee police, elected officials, property owners and neighboring businesses to work together on measures aimed at improving safety.

The company said those efforts should include a more visible police presence during peak nightlife hours, better coordination between businesses and law enforcement, youth outreach and enforcement targeting illegal weapons, violence and disorder.

"This is not about pointing fingers," the company said. "It is about recognizing that what we are doing today is not enough. We need solutions, accountability and measurable improvement."

Silk on Water said it plans to reassess the closure in early November, including reviewing steps taken by city officials and law enforcement and whether there has been what the company considers meaningful improvement in public safety.

"We want to reopen," the company said. "We want our employees back at work. We want to welcome our customers back through our doors. But we need to be confident that reopening is the responsible thing to do."

Until then, the company said protecting employees and customers will remain its priority.

"We would rather temporarily close our doors and lose revenue than remain open and have the next act of violence involve one of our employees or guests," Silk on Water said. "That is a risk we are no longer willing to take."