Digital News Report – SANTA CRUZ – In the tough economy some eateries have transformed themselves into nightclubs after dark. The Santa Cruz city council addressed this phenomenon at their Tuesday meeting.
This new development concerned some citizens and members of the council. In 1995 the city passed a regulation to allow some restaurants to serve alcoholic beverages. They divided sales establishments into two groups: high risk with permits of $1,598 and low risk permits costing $851.
The high-risk sellers include liquor stores and nightclubs. The low-risk sellers are the restaurants serving beer and wine. Now some restaurants have begun a night-time operation. The restaurants are staying open later and this has become a problem for law enforcement.
Back in July the council discussed solutions to this trend. The city considered new fees and regulations. In November they directed staff to study the matter.
The city now requires that if an establishment adds music or expands their hours, they must apply for a permit change. They may be required to hire extra security and have acoustical studies performed. Establishments with small amplifiers will not be affects.
There are only a handful of nightclubs that will be affected:
Cypress Lounge
The Catalyst
Seabright Brewery
Red Restaurant and Bar
Rosie McCann’s Irish Pub
Ideal Bar and Grill
Cafe Mare Italian Restaurant
Crow’s Nest Restaurant
Cocoanut Grove
By: Mark Williams
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“There are only a handful of nightclubs that will be affected:
Cypress Lounge
The Catalyst
Seabright Brewery
Red Restaurant and Bar
Rosie McCann’s Irish Pub
Ideal Bar and Grill
Cafe Mare Italian Restaurant
Crow’s Nest Restaurant
Cocoanut Grove”
that probably accounts for about 75-80% of bar go-ers age 21-28 on any given night… thats no handful of clubs thats the majority!
You really shouldn’t punish the establishments for something like this and not have a solution other than “give us more money”
This isn’t really something that the bar itself can solve… Charging $1500+ for any establishment deemed high risk to play music on anything but miniature speakers is just ridiculous and also cruel.
City council needs to get off their donkey-like rears and do something about the never ending influx of transients, gangsters, drug dealers, and the Drug problems and crime that follows…
Every year this town gets worse, and its definitely not the fault of the establishments listed. Lax city ordinance against transients, gangs, and hard drug dealers has made this place a hotbed for crime, crude behavior and an endless supply of dirty trash that can barely pass as a human being… thanks guys.