Part 2: Grobaty on Los Altos and Taco Beach

What's Hot-Part 2 Grobaty on Los Altos and Taco Beach

Direct LINK to What's Hot Press Telegram column by Tim Grobaty:
http://www.presstelegram.com/columnists/ci_22862659/tim-grobaty-calling-us-out-trailer-trash-we

By Tim Grobaty presstelegram.com Tuesday March 26, 2013

The bulk of our mail and calls last week was inspired by the Los Altos Center Adjacent Neighborhoods (LACAN) and its close monitoring of the soon-to-open Taco Beach at 2099 Bellflower Blvd., formerly the site of Best Place Cafe (and, long before that, the Village Inn). We noted that the LACAN watchdogs were keeping close tabs on Taco Beach's conditional-use rules, which includes barring the restaurant/bar from advertising aimed at Cal State Long Beach students. We don't recall taking a stand on the issue, other than the likelihood that the savvy students at the university, just a few blocks away from Taco Beach, were likely to discover the place anyway.

Regardless, we got a phone message Thursday evening from a woman who told us, "A year or so ago you hated everyone in Orange County because they were coming in your neighborhood getting off the freeway. Now it seems you don't want the young people, although they would be 21 and older, anywhere near your place. I think if you stopped going to the, quote, `Barn' with a drink and a TV set watching news and actually went out and enjoyed some of the activities, you would find that you wouldn't need booze at all. I think you're turning into a rather bitter old man. You might want to work on that."

Look: A.) We didn't hate everyone in Orange County, and they weren't coming into our neighborhood during the time the 405 freeway's Seventh Street offramp was closed. We live a couple miles north of that. B.) We also live a couple of miles north of the soon-to-open Taco Beach. C.) We're not a bitter old man, we're a fat, puffy liberal. D.) Get off our lawn.


We wish we had a Taco Beach by our house, but all we have is a gas station and a Baskin-Robbins. In any event, it seems like a First World problem, especially when other Long Beach neighborhoods are dealing with the presence or impending presence of crematoria, railroads and homeless shelters on their blocks.

And, the Taco Beach problem isn't a problem for all the neighbors. We received several pro-Taco Beach letters. Terry McQuaid, who lives in the "impacted" area, writes, "What we are wary of is if Taco Beach doesn't open, then another fast-food/drive-thru will take its place. We don't want to hear the cacophonous squawk box echoing throughout the neighborhood until 2 a.m. Our neighborhood kids are applying for jobs at Taco Beach, and the obvious investment being made in the building is only appreciating our neighborhood's desirability. I hope to see you there sometime to shake hands and have a taco and a cold margarita."

Sounds great! But, seriously, get off our lawn.

tgrobaty@yahoo.com, 562-714-2116 or twitter.com/grobaty

Copyright 2012 Long Beach Press Telegram. All rights reserved.

LACAN thanks Mr. Grobaty

Dear Mr. Grobaty,

Thank you for your coverage of the TACO BEACH issues in the Los Altos Center Adjacent Neighborhoods. 

Just for the record, Taco Beach does not operate in Belmont Shores, that is Taco SURF. The Taco Beach location in downtown did use to be a Taco Surf, but was sold to Mr. Vance. who uses the name TACO BEACH.

The 3 Taco BEACH locations are at the new Long Beach Airport terminal, downtown and now at Los Altos.

In the long process for allowing the license at the Los Altos location, Mr. Vance during our neighborhood meeting and during the Planning Commission meeting, referred to wanting to make the Los Altos location  as "exciting" as Simmzy's in the Shore. As you can see from the Google review below, Simmzy's is a "loud and crowded" eatery.

That type of establishment is incompatible with the location which the Los Altos location backs up to: single residential homes with bedrooms less than 50 ft from the establishment.  The new Taco Beach is not in the Los Altos Center, but in a residential neighborhood without the "buffer" of an alley and large public parking lots that most of Belmont Shore has separating residents from businesses. Even with those buffers in the Shore, the residents continue to have problems.  Our neighborhood was being proactive in addressing the issues and now have guaranteed safe guards.

Please refer to the LINKS below for further understanding.

Regards

LACAN

TACO BEACH Pine Street YouTube VIDEO

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAgdY9e21-s

PRESS TELEGRAM STORY

Woman killed by car in downtown Long Beach following fight

By Karen Robes Meeks,

LINK: http://www.presstelegram.com/ci_22580945/woman-killed-downtown-long-beach-following-fight

Tim Grobaty on TACO BEACH

Tim Grobaty: Neighbors wary of new Taco Beach near (shhhh) Cal State Long Beach

LINK: http://www.presstelegram.com/columnists/ci_22824346/tim-grobaty-neighbors-wary-new-taco-beach-near?source=rss_viewed

 BEACH WATCH: Watchdog residents in the non-sexy-sounding LACAN (Los Altos Center Adjacent Neighborhoods) have been keeping a keen eye on the opening of a controversial (to LACAN) Taco Beach, scheduled to open in early April at the site of the former Best Place Cafe at 2099 Bellflower Blvd.

Taco Beach will be youthing up the neighborhood, which isn't exactly what LACAN hankers for. Opposition to Taco Beach, in particular its beer, wine and spirits permit, resulted in a mess of conditions that must be met by the restaurant chain that includes locations on Downtown's Pine Avenue and at Long Beach Airport.
The most unique is a one-year condition prohibiting aiming advertising at students at nearby Cal State Long Beach. LACANites are already skittish enough about the prospect of rowdy drinkers, raucous karaoke singers, boisterous sports fans, parking problems, late-night hilarity and whatever else a popular restaurant/bar brings with it. It'd be cool with LACAN if Cal State Long Beach students never stumble upon the place, even though the campus is so close to the restaurant that we could walk from one to the other without whining about it too much.

Already, Taco Beach monitors in the area have found what they consider a breach in the conditions, with a resident finding a Taco Beach employment listing on Craigslist. In the advertisement for kitchen staff and other help, Taco Beach's location is given as "CSULB."

According to LACAN's blog, residents attempted to reach Taco Beach's owner, Kevan Vance and, failing that, a letter was sent to 4th District City Councilman Patrick O'Donnell, and within an hour the location of Taco Beach on Craigslist was changed to "Los Altos Shopping Center."


(LACAN Editor note: Please see our response to Mr. Grobaty @

http://losaltoscenterneighborhoods.blogspot.com/2013/03/lacan-thanks-mr-grobaty.html

that includes the You Tube video below):

Taco Beach AFTER HOURS ?????

TACO BEACH AFTER HOURS??

Unconfirmed reports from neighbors who are signing the PROTEST WITHDRAWAL are that people applying for jobs at the Los Altos Taco Beach are being told that Taco Beach Los Altos will close at 12 midnight.

While they can serve food for as long as they want, the Long Beach CUP and the ABC Conditional Alcohol License Condition Number 1 are very clear that:

"1. Sales, service, and consumption of alcoholic beverages shall be permitted only between the hours of 8:00 am to 9:00 pm Sunday through Thursday, and 8:00 am and 10:00 pm Friday and Saturday."

in addtion, Condition Number 7 is very clear:

"7. Sales, service, and consumption of alcoholic beverages shall be permitted in the patio only between the hours of 8:00 am to 8:00 pm each day of the week."

 That means ALL alcoholic drinks must be cleared off of tables for AFTER HOUR food service or they risk being cited and losing their alcohol license.

The Abbeyfield/Daggett Neighborhood is committed to monitoring adherence to the CUP and ABC License for after hour alcohol sales inside and on the patio.

TACO BEACH "CSULB" location changed in advertisment

TACO BEACH changes CSULB advertisement on Craigslist

One day after signing the ABC conditional permit, Taco Beach management placed an ad for servers on Craigslist. The advertisement (below) stated the “location” was CSULB :

Taco Beach Restaurant is seeking Servers (CSULB)

Taco Beach Restaurant is seeking restaurant 'Front of the House Servers and more who are looking to be a part of a fun team for it's exciting fast pace third Mexican Restaurant featuring full lunch, dinner and bar service. We are seeking energetic outgoing persons who believe that good service is never good enough - only Excellent Service will do. Taco Beach believes that integrity, professionalism, ongoing training and development always produces a happy staff and management that give a one of a kind personal care and attention to all patrons. We are holding walk in interviews (no appointment needed) on March 16 & 18 between 2 and 5pm at the new Taco Beach, 2099 Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach Ca. 90815. More info contact Baron (562) 485-8372 between 3pm - 7pm)

Location: CSULB

Compensation: Hourly Wages

Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.

Please, no phone calls about this job!

Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.

An attempt to contact Barron in the number was unsuccessful after reaching a full voicemail box.  A call to the Taco Beach owner was made and a voicemail was left. Unable to contact the manager, the following email was sent to Patrick O’Donnell and it was taped to the front door of Taco Beach:

Councilman Patrick O'Donnell

4th District

Dear Patrick,

As you know the CUP for the Los Altos Taco Beach EXPLICITLY prohibits advertisement to CSULB.

Below is the TACO BEACH Ad for servers from Craigslist, It states its "LOCATION" as CSULB in two places.

The LOCATION of Taco Beach is NOT CSULB.

This is a DIRECT violation of the CUP for "ADVERTISING TO CSULB" Students.

We are very concerned that the establishment is not open yet, but has already violated the CUP.

Los Altos Center Adjacent Neighborhoods

Within an hour the Craigslist Ad was changed, removing the CSULB location designation and replacing it with  "Los Altos Shoping Center".

RECAP of the PROTEST against TACO BEACH license

  RECAP of TACO BEACH Neighborhood ACTIONS and FINAL ABC Permit

On August 30, 2012, the California Alcohol Beverage Control (ABD) mailed a letter to the Abbeyfield/ Daggett residents within 100 feet of the former Best Place Café at 2099 Bellflower Ave. informing them of an application for a full liquor license from the operators of the Pine Avenue Taco Beach Cantina. The proposed hours on the application were 8 am to 2 am- 7 days a week.

Concerned Abbeyfield/Daggett neighborhood residents contacted the ABC and Councilman  O’Donnell’s office about the application. 

A formal and legal protest petition signed by 48 neighbors was filed with the ABC.



Rooftops of residential bedrooms behind Los Altos Taco Beach



A meeting was arranged with the owner of Taco Beach by Councilman O’Donnell.

Residents prepared for the October 4, 2012 LB Planning Commission Meeting with packets that included the ABC Petition Protest and pictures of the neighborhood surrounding the proposed.

City Staff recommended the hours of 8-10 weekdays and 8- 11 on weekends to the Planning Commission. In issuing a Conditional Use Permit (CUP), the LB Planning Commission imposed hours consistent with the neighborhood- 9 pm on weekdays and 10 pm on weekends (Friday/Saturday). In addition to other restrictions, the patio would close at 8:00 pm every night.  Residents did not appeal this decision to the LB City Council. However, the residents were concerned that these restrictions would only be in place for one year.

Residents obtained site plans that included a “new” patio bump out onto Abbyfield Street.
On October 14, Sherbert Jones of the LB Building Department responded by email to residents about the intent of Taco Beach to apply for a Public Walk Ways Occupancy Permit. In his email he stated “We (Public Works) have made notes of those of you who oppose approval of this permit.  We will do our best to keep you all posted as this matter is worked out.”

In December, a visit to the Lakewood ABC reveled that they were not aware of the LB Planning Commission CUP. They would get a copy of it to research it for the permit process.

On Friday March 8, the ABC emailed the "proposed” ABC license to protestors. The proposal included the hours of 10 pm for weekdays and 11 pm for week nights.  After receiving concerns from a number of  protestors about the change of hours from the LB CUP- the ABC was contacted and told thr protest would continue unless the hours reflected the compromise hours the LB Planning Commission issued in the CUP.

March 13, 2013 ABC the emailed the conditional license with the CUP hours and the Taco Beach  owner’s signature and initials.  Unlike the CUP ( which expires in 1 year)  these will stay with the BUILDING and will be permanent.

The Taco Beach owner has agreed to the ABC restrictions that reflect the hours of the LB CUP-

8 am – 9 pm on weekdays 

8 am – 10 pm on Friday and Saturday night.

The patio would close EVERY night at 8 pm to serving and "alcohol comsumption".

 In addition other ABC restrictions include:Alcohol sales may not exceed food sales in any quarter.
No outside advertisement or signs of any kind.
No Live entertainment, amplified sound or dancing.
A single jukebox or stereo-not audible from outside.
No loitering and must keep his area litter free.
 

In addition the LB CUP restrictions would EXPIRE in 1 year include:

No advertising to CSULB students.

No smoking allowed outside on the sidewalk.

 

Los Altos Center Adjacent Neighborhoods
(Los Altos CAN)

This blog is dedicated to the neighborhood issues surrounding the Los Altos Center and the businesses located on the Bellflower Blvd. and Stearns Street shopping corridors.