Senior Services of Southeastern Virginia has announced the closing of its Suffolk office effective immediately due to safety concerns.

The office at 1226 White Marsh Road served very few clients in the actual office, Chief Executive Officer John Skirven said in a press release. Other arrangements will be made to serve them. Most of the agency’s services took place in clients’ homes or in locations like community centers and libraries.

“We are discontinuing direct client services and staffing at our White Marsh Shopping Center office due to concerns for the safety of our employees, volunteers and clients,” Skirven said in the press release. “As of Tuesday morning, June 17, we will no longer maintain office hours or see clients at this site.”

Skirven explained that during the past several months, staff members and volunteers who regularly work out of the White Marsh Road location have expressed growing discomfort about working there. A search committee has been looking at options to relocate the office.

“An incident in the area earlier this week was the deciding factor in the decision to close the office immediately,” said Skirven. “The safety of our employees, volunteers and our clients is of the utmost importance to us, and we no longer feel comfortable keeping this office open.”

On Wednesday, two businesses in the shopping center reported no concerns about safety. Nasir Awadallah, owner of E Z Food Mart & Deli next-door, said his next-door neighbor’s decision to move out was “a big surprise.”

“We’ve had no problems at all, and we’ve been here for 6 ½ years,” he said. “We haven’t had any problems whatsoever.”

However, Awadallah and one of his employees discussed a recent shooting that occurred on White Marsh Road — not on the shopping center property. A “young man” who said he was on his way to North Carolina had a window in his car shot out while driving past, they said.

Senior Services was contacted Wednesday seeking more information on the incident that finally prompted them to move, but no one had responded by deadline.

City spokeswoman Diana Klink said the city would provide details on the incident and answer other questions Thursday — “after we are able to fully investigate.”

Only one staff member was at Senior Services’ White Marsh Shopping Center office early Wednesday afternoon. “For security reasons, this door may be locked,” read a sign posted in the window.