City of Santa Monica Begins Move to Evict the Ash Grove

While owner Ed Pearl remains hopeful that a new investor will offer a last-minute reprieve, the city of Santa Monica has begun eviction proceedings against the Ash Grove music club.

The city attorney’s office filed a lawsuit in Santa Monica Superior Court on Wednesday seeking to take possession of the beleaguered nightspot and collect about $65,000 in back rent and other fees.

“It does not look good at this moment,” Jeff Mathieu, the city’s director of resource management, said Thursday. “We’re proceeding as if the club will not remain open.”

Meanwhile, Pearl continued to negotiate with an undisclosed potential investor in an effort to save the historic club, which has been housed on the Santa Monica Pier since its reopening last July.

But even if the club owners meet their financial obligations to the city, the Ash Grove still might be closed down, Mathieu said.

“We would have to assess a variety of different things . . . such as, what is their ability to carry on and not have this sort of situation be created again?” said the city official. “If they’re not able to demonstrate that they can operate this kind of a club, there’s no need to continue the lease agreement with them. . . .

“Money is not the exclusive concern regarding the club.”

If the Ash Grove is closed down, Mathieu added, the city probably would seek another music venue to fill the space next door to the carousel.

Under Pearl’s direction, the Ash Grove served as the center of Los Angeles’ highly influential folk music scene when it was located in West Hollywood from 1958 until a fire closed it in 1973.

After the club finally reopened 23 years later, he won’t give up easily.

“There’s an excellent chance of coming to an agreement with Mr. Money,” he said of his efforts to reach agreement with a new investor. “If it goes through, it will be back to business as normal very, very quickly. If not, then it’s over.”