Santa Fe Springs : Agreement May Result in Closure of Besieged Bar

A proposed agreement between the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control and the owner of a topless bar would shut down the operation forever.

As part of the tentative agreement, the Cat Patch bar closed Oct. 17. The pact also stipulates that owner John Marsh has 180 days to sell his liquor license or lose it, according to documents the alcohol board sent to the city. Marsh cannot sell his license to a family member or someone involved in running the Cat Patch. Furthermore, the license could not be used to sell liquor at the site of the Cat Patch for a year.

A liquor license, worth $17,000 to $20,000, is typically sold to an unrelated business in a different location, officials at the alcohol-control department said.

The Cat Patch was under siege by both the alcohol-control agency and the city of Santa Fe Springs, which has periodically sought to close the bar for the last 24 years.

On Oct. 4, City Manager Don Powell stopped the topless dancing by suspending the bar’s entertainment permit. He cited a variety of Health and Safety Code violations as well as alleged criminal activity on the part of patrons and employees.

Those same problems had prompted the alcohol board to consider revoking Marsh’s liquor license. The proposed settlement still must be approved by the alcohol board leadership.