I think most people could understand that the guy had a bad loss inflicted on him during a time of hellish stress. I think most people could understand that the weirdo who chose that time to provoke him was begging for a negative response and pretty much deserved whatever he/she/it got. Why close your business over this?
Because of high-profile public shaming in the tight-knit world of Portland restaurant culture.
Because in Portland the weirdo became a hero for encouraging additional destruction and he is considered a criminal for failing to fall in line. So his business was already lost.