The company's president says the filing does not reflect actual job losses and instead relates to an ownership transition already underway at the popular nightlife venues. Following publication of the WARN filing, CHW Entertainment President Bob Walin contacted SanDiegoVille to clarify that all 77 employees are expected to remain employed as operations transition to ENB Entertainment, LLC, the company's new ownership group.
"The 77 employees you mentioned are all being hired by ENB Entertainment, LLC – there will be no closure, just an uninterrupted transition," Walin said. "The WARN notice specifically said, 'The Company does not plan to coordinate services with any entity such as the local workplace development board for helping workers find new jobs as that would not be applicable in this case since the business will continue without interruption.'"
Walin expressed concern that reports about the WARN filing could cause unnecessary anxiety among employees and emphasized that neither The Shout! House nor Garage Kitchen & Bar is expected to cease operations.
The filing was submitted as ownership of the businesses transitions from CHW Entertainment to ENB Entertainment, a company led by longtime entertainer and entertainment manager Eric Blumenfeld. Earlier this year, representatives for the venue announced that The Shout! House would remain open under its existing name and continue operating its signature dueling piano bar concept.
In a statement previously provided to SanDiegoVille, Blumenfeld was quoted as describing the acquisition as an effort to preserve and build upon the venue's longstanding legacy.
"The Shout! House is more than a bar - it's a tradition, a celebration destination, and a place where unforgettable memories are made," Blumenfeld said. "I'm honored to carry the torch forward and continue the legacy that CHW Entertainment built over the last two decades."
While California WARN notices are commonly associated with layoffs, they can also be triggered during certain business sales, mergers, and ownership transitions where employees are formally separated from one employing entity and immediately rehired by another. According to Walin, that is what is occurring in this case.
Founded in 2004 by Kevin Clover, Roger Hunt, and Bob Walin, The Shout! House has become one of downtown San Diego's most recognizable entertainment venues, helping anchor the Gaslamp Quarter's nightlife scene for more than two decades.
Based on information provided by current ownership, all 77 employees are expected to continue working under ENB Entertainment and customers should not experience any interruption in service during the transition.
The Shout! House and Garage Kitchen & Bar are located at 655 Fourth Avenue in downtown San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter. For more information, visit theshouthouse.com.
Originally published on June 3, 2026.
Originally published on June 3, 2026.