Lakewood : Neighbor Complaints Stir City to Revoke Bar’s Permit
A Lakewood bar, whose neighbors complained about noise, fights and loitering, lost an appeal to stay in business when the City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to revoke the bar’s operating permit.
Maria Castillo, owner of El Trebol Cantina at 20917 Pioneer Blvd., said she did not know the city had received complaints about her bar. She also said she never received three certified letters city officials say they sent her about the complaints.
Charles Ebner, director of community development, said the complaints about loud music go back to Aug. 18, 1989, and led the city in July to revoke the bar’s license for live bands.
Betty Munkeby, who manages apartments adjacent to the bar, said the live music drove tenants away.
“There has been a bar there for many years,” Castillo said. “It’s just that this is a Mexican bar and most of the tenants complaining are not Hispanic.”
The bar, formerly the Cloverleaf Bar, has been there for about 30 years. It became the El Trebol in 1987.
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