Key Center Loses a Business, Venue and Meeting Place

After celebrating its 10th anniversary Oct. 8, Blend Wine Shop will close its doors permanently Oct. 30. “Even as we were recovering and revenues were slowly starting to return to pre-pandemic levels, our landlord decided that it was time to double our rent,” said owner Don Swensen in a statement. With a fifth wave of COVID-19 infections requiring a return to masks and capacity restrictions, Swensen called the situation “unsustainable.”

“We know that Blend has become a community asset for many individuals and groups over the years and we are sorry that we can no longer keep that going,” he said. “Please remember the good times. The concerts, the gatherings, the comings and goings, the engagements, the laughter and the tears, the friends we’ve made and the friends we’ve lost, and the friends we’ll always be.”