COSTA MESA : Council Reaffirms Action Against Bar

The City Council has decided against hearing new information on the Island Trader bar and restaurant, reinforcing an earlier decision to revoke its operating permit.

Now, owner Gregory Howell has 30 days to decide whether to take the battle against the city to court, as at least two other bar owners on Newport Boulevard have done after the city revoked permits citing residents’ complaints about noise and unruly bar patrons late at night.

“It’s a type of collusion on the part of the neighbors,” Howell said after the council’s decision Monday night. He charged that some of the neighbors who had complained to the city lied when they said other residents had moved because the bar was too noisy.

He presented letters from two people he said had been threatened with higher rents or eviction if they spoke in favor of the Island Trader. He said they moved for other reasons, such as wanting larger apartments.

But council members said they saw no reason to open up the process again, citing several attempts to work with Howell to reduce complaints. The council and the Planning Commission had asked Howell to close up earlier and stop serving alcohol before closing time.

“No substantive new evidence has been presented,” Councilman Jay Humphrey said.

Howell said he would review his next move, which could include a lawsuit against the city as well as asking for a temporary restraining order to continue operating as usual until the court battle is exhausted.

“We’re still looking at our options. We didn’t know what the outcome would be tonight,” he said. “Business is good, customers are happy. We’ve got the situation under control.”

The city has revoked the conditional-use permits of other bars, such as Henry N’ Harry’s Goat Hill Tavern and Hogue Barmichaels, which have engaged in ongoing legal battles to retain their right to operate in the city. Those bars continue to operate under temporary restraining orders while the cases wind their way through the courts.