CYPRESS : City OKs New Club, With Reservations

A building known to local residents for having a history of troublesome restaurants and nightclubs will open as a new club in three months.

The City Council granted a business and entertainment permit to Juan Garcia, who plans to open Los Rios Mexican Restaurant and Nightclub in the now-vacant building in Cinnamon Square at Ball Road and Juanita Street.

More than three years ago before the building failed as the Meadowlark restaurant, it was known as Promises, a rock ‘n’ roll nightclub. The club was shut down after residents complained of loud noise late at night and customers loitering in the parking lot, city officials said.

Before Promises, several other restaurants briefly occupied the building, which had become known as problems among residents.

Because of the site’s history, council members restricted Los Rios’ operating hours from 11 a.m. to midnight Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. on the weekends and nights before holidays.

In addition, Garcia offered to pay the city 35% of the admission he will charge customers on nights when the bands play. The charge will be between $10 and $15, and Garcia said he expects to fill the place with 300 people each weekend night. City officials said the restaurant admission tax is the first of its kind in Cypress.

Garcia also will hire two security guards, one for inside and one for outside.

Nevertheless, Councilwoman Cecilia L. Age said: “I’m nervous about this business. It’s in an area where we’ve had problems in the past and given the history of that place, we’re walking on eggshells.”

A business owner in Cinnamon Square pleaded with the City Council to allow Garcia to open his restaurant. “Please give small business a chance,” Tim Wang said. “Give a small potato something to live on.”

Council members required that the business permit be reviewed in one year. In addition, if residents complain about the business, the city may revoke Garcia’s permit to provide live entertainment.