Munchbar Shut Permanently in Aftermath of Christmas Eve Shooting

Munchbar, the Bellevue nightclub where a man was shot fatally on Christmas Eve, will close permanently, as will its sister club, Mirror Lounge, according to Kemper Development Company in a statement.

The club, located at Bellevue Square, has been closed since Dec. 24, when a shooting broke out after an altercation. DeShawn Milliken, 30, of Seattle, was shot fatally, and a Renton man was injured. 

Wednesday night, Ja’mari Alexander Alan Jones was taken into custody in Lakewood when he was in a car reported stolen out of Auburn, according to the Bellevue Police Department.

A second-degree murder charge against Jones was filed last week by the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office while he was at large, and prosecutors requested Jones held in lieu of $5 million bail.

Kemper Development Company, the company that runs Bellevue Square, issued the following statement:

Kemper Development Company and the owners of Munchbar/Mirror Lounge have mutually agreed to not reopen the restaurant and lounge. Both parties determined this would be best for the community, guests and the families involved.  Munchbar and Mirror Lounge have been closed since  December 24, 2012.

Munchbar opened in January 2011, with an eye toward a younger crowd and celebrity appearances, including scheduled appearances by Carmen Electra, Mario Lopez, Christopher Mintz-Plasse and Edgar Martinez. Owners Munchgroup opened the first Munchbar at Ceasar's Palace in Las Vegas, according to an April 2011 Patch article.

Its sister club, Mirror Lounge, originally opened as Pianobash, and it changed concepts and names last year.

Previous coverage:

• Report: Bellevue Bar Shooting Victim Identified as Garfield Grad
• Suspect in Fatal Bellevue Bar Shooting was Convicted in 'Tuba Man' Killing