Distillery West Shut for a Night in License Rift
The Distillery West, a Solana Beach disco popular with teenagers because it serves up live rock music and non-alcoholic drinks, was shut Wednesday night and the club owner arrested because authorities said he does not have a license permitting minors into the disco.
Richard Henry Vander, 35, of El Cajon, was arrested by sheriff’s deputies and booked into the County Jail in Vista. He was later released on his own recognizance. The club was closed only for the night and was open Thursday.
“The Distillery has an adult dance license and an entertainment license, but they try to run the place as a teen nightclub,” said Lt. Dennis Renyen of the sheriff’s vice unit. “The license he has requires that anyone under 18 be accompanied by an adult.”
Was Cited 3 Times
Renyen said deputies cited Vander last Saturday, Sunday and Monday for allowing minors into the club. “But he continued to let them in at seven bucks apiece because he already had a thing set up with the Mar Dels, a well-known rock band,” Renyen said.
“We don’t object to having a teen-age club, and it’s probably good for our city,” he said. “But you have to have the proper license and uphold the scrutiny of our background checks.”
Vander was unavailable for comment. His wife, Tanya, said the club would continue to stay open but no one under 18 will be admitted without a parent or guardian.
“Well-educated, good teen-agers are suffering because the Sheriff’s Department closed our teen dance,” she said.
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