IRVINE : Upscale Pool Hall, Nightclub Proposed

The owners of The Shark Club in Costa Mesa have proposed opening a similar “upscale” pool hall and nightclub in the Marketplace near the UC Irvine campus.

Planning commissioners looked at the proposal for the FX Club last week but delayed action in order to determine whether the Marketplace has enough parking spaces to accommodate the business.

The Hanour Corp. applied to the city to open the nightclub in the retail and entertainment center, replacing a clothing store that is moving to a smaller location in the center. Adding the FX Club to the center would require the center’s owner, the Irvine Co., to change its plans for a future hotel at the Marketplace and make minor parking lot changes in order to handle the club’s customers.

Before approving the club, planning commissioners said last Thursday that they want more information from city traffic planners on whether the parking lot changes will be enough to solve the additional parking required for the club.

Plans are for the FX Club to operate in the day as a 13-table pool hall serving lunch and offering free pool to the business crowd, said Jon Hanour, co-owner of The Shark Club and chairman of Hanour Corp. At night, the FX Club would become a restaurant and alternative nightclub playing progressive music--possibly with live bands--aimed at people in their 20s and 30s, he said.

A valet service will be available and prices will be relatively high to help create an “upscale” atmosphere, he said.

Planning commissioners Kate Clark and Rich Salter noted that the club doesn’t seem designed to attract the thousands of UCI students just across the street.

Clark said she was “appalled” that the Irvine Co. was trying to bring in another tenant to the Marketplace that seems to ignore the college students and staff. The center already has high priced clothing and other boutiques that college students don’t use, she said.

Hanour said he believes the FX Club will be popular with UCI students.

The commission will consider approving the FX Club at its Feb. 6 meeting.