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# Father’s Office customers back in swing of things
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/fathers-office-customers-back-in-swing-of-things/
- Published: 2006-10-27T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T21:51:47.000Z
- Author: Melody Hanatani
- Tags: Business, Montana, #archive-import

*The wait appears over for the ‘F.O.’ faithful*

MONTANA AVENUE — The wait is over.

Customers who have complained for months about the long wait in line to feast on a matag blue cheese-covered burger at Father’s Office can finally bite their tongues.

That’s because the popular tavern at 1018 Montana Ave. is finally in compliance with the city’s building and fire codes on maximum occupancy, allowing the formerly overcrowded taphouse to legally accommodate up to 76 people, including employees and customers.

The Fire Department conducted a surprise inspection on May 5 after receiving an anonymous complaint that the restaurant was filled beyond capacity. Father’s Office, which oftentimes had jammed patrons dining and drinking elbow-to-elbow, was immediately ordered to cut back on its number of occupants to 49 because it did not possess a public assembly permit.

In Santa Monica, establishments that wish to exceed a maximum occupancy of 49, including schools and churches, must file for a permit to operate as a place of public assembly and have two exits that swing outward — the direction of traffic. In the case of Father’s Office,it had neither.

For months following the inspection, a line flowed out the door onto the sidewalk once the restaurant reached its 49-person capacity. Customers said they were happy with the extra room while dining, but patrons on the outside looking in were less enthused.

Matthew Romeo, of Santa Monica, would sometimes wait in line up to 20 minutes to enjoy a beer at “F.O.”— as many regulars refer to the tavern — but anything longer wouldn’t be worth his time, he said.

“They have one of the best selections of beer in Los Angeles,” said Romeo, who has been to Father’s Office at least a dozen times.“They probably have the best selection of draft beer in Santa Monica.”

RAPID RESPONSE Following the springtime inspection, Father’s Office hired an architect and constructed a second exit in order to increase its occupancy to 76, a number that is based on a formula of square footage versus the number and width of exits. A restaurant’s large square footage does not necessarily mean it will have a high maximum occupancy if it has just one exit, said Fire Marshal Jim Glew.

A public assembly permit costs $228 a year for establishments smaller than 5,000 square feet, such as Father’s Office.

Those exceeding 5,000 square feet dish out $319 a year.

Now that it has a permit, the Fire Department’s Public Assembly Unit plans to inspect the restaurant every year.

“We want compliance and encourage business owners to do well, as long as they follow our life safety guidelines to ensure public safety is maintained,” Glew said.

News that one of the most famous taverns in the city could once again serve larger crowds was met with a warm response.

More than 15 customers were left without a seat, waiting around 8 p.m. on Wednesday. However, the real crowds don’t typically arrive until later,around 10 p.m.,said Tom Upton,who was throwing back a few beers with Romeo. Both Upton and Romeo recently moved to Santa Monica from New Orleans.

“The problem with this place was they were packing too many people,” Upton said. “I come here for the beer. It’s the only place that has my hometown beer.”

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 27, 2006.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/102706.pdf?ref=smdp.com)