Fullerton Restores Ice House Permit but Adds Conditions

City Council members Tuesday restored the controversial Ice House’s entertainment permit.

Reversing a Planning Commission decision, the council decided to allow the Ice House to keep its permit with the condition that it no longer have events of more than 144 people unless it gets special approval from the city.

Planning commissioners last month revoked the Ice House’s entertainment permit, citing recent violence that marred two punk rock concerts there.

Police began pushing in February to have the hall’s entertainment permit pulled, after a third person was stabbed. An 18-year-old man was beaten and stabbed in December while waiting for a performance by the Vandals, an Orange County band, and two men were chased, stabbed and beaten in February, authorities said.

Police Chief Patrick McKinley last month said the punk rock concerts had become dangerous and posed a threat to the city and that the concerts’ promoters did not provide enough security.

After the Planning Commission revoked the building’s entertainment permit, Ice House leaseholder and operator Francisco Roman said he would appeal and promised to ban future punk rock concerts if he could continue to hold weddings and other family-oriented celebrations.

McKinley said he has no problem with allowing family events with more than 144 guests at the Ice House, although he would oppose any kind of “headbanger” music.

Scores of people who have booked the Ice House for wedding receptions, birthday parties and other family events had been nervously awaiting the City Council’s decision. Afterward, those who attended the meeting were more hopeful.

However, for the next 60 days the Ice House will be required to obtain city approval to stage such family-oriented parties, city officials said, because of concerns about whether there is adequate parking.