Business Is Granted Permit for Alcohol

After proposing wholesale changes for their business, the owners of a restaurant and entertainment center have won the latest round in their battle to obtain a permit to sell alcoholic beverages.

The San Fernando Planning Commission this week granted Big Red’s application for a conditional-use permit to sell alcohol after the owners said they would eliminate electronic arcade games from the business.

The games were a major factor in the City Council’s acceptance in January of an appeal by the San Fernando Valley Partnership, overturning an earlier commission decision favoring a permit for Big Red.

Unlike the initial application, which was for beer and wine only, the permit granted Tuesday would allow Big Red to sell all types of alcohol.

Big Red must still apply to the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control for a liquor license.

Big Red co-owner Avi Levi said his restaurant needs a liquor license to remain competitive.

“We are pleased because this was an important decision for us,” Levi said. “We would have been happier if we could have worked out something to keep the entertainment center.”

While the decision represents a significant victory for Big Red, the director of the San Fernando Valley Partnership vowed to file another appeal and to contest the application on the state level as well. An appeal would require the City Council to decide the matter a second time.

Ester Hannon said the commissioners should have waited until a study of the city’s downtown business area is completed later this year before granting additional alcohol permits.

Officials have been holding off on possible changes to the city’s restrictive liquor license ordinance until the study is done.

Hannon said the south side of the city, where Big Red is located, already has too many businesses selling alcohol.

“The south side is where most of the crime is committed in San Fernando,” Hannon said.

“I don’t see how they can grant this in good conscience.”

Mayor Raul Godinez II said he supports the commission’s decision but regrets the loss of one of the city’s few youth-oriented businesses.