Citations Settled : Club’s Liquor License to Be Lifted 10 Days

In the wake of continuing community complaints about excessive noise and vandalism, a Van Nuys nightclub agreed Tuesday to the suspension of its liquor license for 10 days.

Owners of the New El Gato/Valley Club, which caters to teen-agers and young adults, was scheduled for an Alcoholic Beverage Control Board hearing today on citations issued in February, 1986, for noise and licensing violations. But the hearing was cancelled following the settlement between the club’s owners and the ABC.

Under the settlement, the club will not sell alcoholic beverages for 10 days, but will be allowed to remain open, ABC Supervising Special Investigator Phil Henry said. The suspension will not go into effect until next month, Henry said, because it must still be reviewed by several ABC officials.

Fine Can Replace Suspension

When a suspension date is set, the club’s owners can ask the ABC to replace the liquor license suspension with a fine of up to $1,500, Henry said.

Most nightclubs ask to pay fines in such cases, Henry said, because they would be severely damaged by the inability to sell alcoholic drinks. The Valley Club, however, has a $5 cover charge and a large number of patrons under 21 who are unable to purchase alcoholic drinks, so it is not as dependent on profits from the sale of drinks, he said.

Neighbors of the Valley Club in recent weeks have petitioned local politicians to investigate it, complaining that patrons of the club at 7324 Sepulveda Blvd. cause noise, crime and other problems.

Dave Mays, an aide to Councilman Joel Wachs, said Tuesday that he has referred the complaints to the city’s Department of Building and Safety and city attorney’s office.

“I think we have them surrounded,” Mays said. “We have been trying for a long time to get their attention to convince them that the way they’re operating their establishment is irresponsible.”

Los Angeles police say they are investigating the circumstances of a shooting outside the club early Monday, but that they suspect it was a random, drive-by shooting.

Daniel Phillips, 40, of Sylmar has been charged with attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon and felony vandalism for allegedly shooting Myron Styles, 38, of Van Nuys as Styles left the club at 2 a.m.

Detective Mel Arnold said that Phillips, who is being held in County Jail in lieu of $125,000 bail, is suspected of having shot at buildings and cars in a series of recent incidents in Van Nuys and Panorama City. No one was injured in the other cases, Arnold said.

Styles, who was shot in the side, was treated and released from Valley Medical Center on Monday.