Angelo’s Loses Bid to Sell Beer at New Outlet : Anaheim Official Cites ‘Illegal Operation’; Another Calls Restaurant ‘Lousy Neighbors’

Called “lousy neighbors” by one city planning commissioner and a couple of residents, the popular Angelo’s Hamburgers in Anaheim lost its bid Monday to sell beer and wine and open an outdoor eating area at a new outlet, which the city says has been operating illegally.

Commissioners denied the requests by Angelo’s because the outlet at 211 N. Beach Blvd., which opened about two months ago, never received approval as a drive-in, drive-through restaurant.

“We cannot expand an illegal

operation,” Commissioner Lewis Herbst said.

Angry at the city, Angelo’s co-owner Anthony Strammiello said after the meeting that his business now may begin actively promoting special events at its popular State College Boulevard location in Anaheim. The new promotions would make up for the revenue the business is losing from not being allowed to sell beer and wine or open a patio eating area at the Beach Boulevard location, he said.

Until now, Strammiello said, he and his partner have been turning away groups who ask to hold events at the ‘50s-style restaurant, which features car hops on roller skates and oldies on a jukebox. But, “being that we’re not getting any cooperation” from the city, Strammiello said, “maybe now we’re going to have to consider promoting the business. . . . They’re offended anyways, so maybe we should just grow.”

Best known for the crowds of Southern California hot-rod lovers it attracts on the first Friday of each month, Angelo’s on State College--which opened in 1981--has been the subject of disputes pitting its owners against the city and neighboring residents, who have complained of code violations, litter and noise.

When Angelo’s opened a second outlet in Anaheim about two months ago, it moved into a building that had been a drive-in, drive-through restaurant for at least 10 years. No owner or operator at the site had ever received permits to operate as a drive-in, drive-through, city officials acknowledged Monday.

Michelle A. Reinglass, an attorney for Angelo’s, said after Monday’s meeting that the Beach Boulevard location “survived four owners and more than 10 years, and there was never any concern”--until Angelo’s moved into the property.

Neighboring businesses and residents from a recreational vehicle park near the Beach Boulevard location urged the commissioners Monday afternoon to turn down Angelo’s requests. They complained of screeching cars, loud music, traffic jams and teen-agers loitering in parking lots of adjacent businesses.

“I don’t see any improvements,” resident Mary Hamilton said in referring to the restaurant owners’ contention that posted signs and additional security have diminished the problems in the last month.

“I think they’re being lousy neighbors out there,” Planning Commissioner Glenn Fry said. “There’s no way, no way I’m going to vote for that.”

Strammiello and co-owner Dennis Williams said they did not know whether they would appeal the commission’s decision to the City Council.

This is the latest in a series of skirmishes between Angelo’s and the city. Williams faces criminal charges in North Orange County Municipal Court next Monday in a dispute with the city involving seven outdoor tables, umbrellas and 21 chairs outside the State College Boulevard restaurant.

Meanwhile, on the first Friday of the month--or “Cruise Night” as it is known to the informal gathering of hundreds of cars--Anaheim police continue to patrol the area, citing drivers for numerous vehicle code violations.

Last February the city implemented a ban on cruising, specifically targeting two areas: Angelo’s and the Camelot Golfland amusement park. With the aid of a computer to keep track of car licenses and numbers of trips past a checkpoint, police cleared the Camelot area of cruisers. The Angelo’s site, however, continues to be a hot spot for young and old alike on the first Friday of each month. Although they have cited as many as 250 drivers for vehicle code violations, police have yet to give one ticket for cruising around Angelo’s. Angelo’s also operates a restaurant on Grand Avenue and 1st Street in Santa Ana.