LA HABRA : Eatery Denied Permit for Entertainment

The City Council has agreed with residents and refused to grant an entertainment permit to Casa Carillo restaurant.

Over the past two years, numerous residents have complained about noise, loitering, littering, public urination, graffiti and inadequate parking. They presented a petition signed by 143 people, urging the council to deny owner Jose Carillo’s request for an entertainment permit.

The permit would have allowed Carillo to hire bands to play dance music, as he did on weekends from 8 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. in 1992. Because of residents’ complaints, however, the council revoked Carillo’s permit last year, and the restaurant has been closed since.

“You should give us a chance,” Carillo pleaded with the council. “If we don’t have music, our place is dead.”

Carillo said past problems have been rectified, but that next time he applies for a permit, which will be soon, he will also offer to hire four security guards.

Council members suggested that the loud and popular Banda music Carillo proposed be replaced with softer mariachi music, which does not require amplification.

“If you had something like that, I would consider” the permit, Councilman Juan M. Garcia told Carillo.

Councilman William D. Mahoney said some of Carillo’s customers had been found drinking alcohol outside the restaurant, loitering in the adjacent neighborhood and urinating.