Phil Rizzuto owns Mardi Gras Daiquiris in the French Quarter. He says that he normally closes early during Bayou Classic weekend because of how violent it is. He told WDSU that fights and shootings are common that weekend.

This past weekend, there was a shooting on Bourbon Street that left a man dead. Rizzuto decided to try and open up for the weekend, but he says he won’t make that mistake again.

Rizzuto said no one would write firearms insurance for the Bayou Classic weekend. During one Bayou Classic weekend, a stray bullet hit Mardi Gras Daiquiris and left a hole inside the bar. After that incident, Rizzuto decided to close the bar early every Bayou Classic weekend.

This year, he offered employees an extra $100 per shift to work Bayou Classic weekend because no one wants to work it.

But if you talk about how violent the French Quarter is during the Bayou Classic weekend, you’re a racist.