By ALEXANDRA BISSONNETTE Special to the Daily Press
WILSHIRE BLVD Santa Monica’s new hot spot South, a restaurant/bar which attracts large crowds that often spill out onto the sidewalk, is being investigated for code violations following complaints from residents living nearby, city officials said.
“The noise and chaos South has brought to our once quiet 1100 block of Stanford Street has become unbearable,” said Steven Fogelman, a resident who lives around the corner from the establishment.
City Hall is investigating South and five other Santa Monica watering holes and eateries, but officials could not yet comment on the details of the investigation. The process is expected to be completed within the next 30 days.
Fogelman argues that South is operating as a nightclub, which is in violation of its C6 zoning code. A C6 designation allows for nightclubs with a conditional permit, which South does not have.
Frank Williams, a code compliance inspector for City Hall, said cover charges and dancing constitute a nightclub by city standards. South does not have a cover charge, nor do they have a dance floor; however, this has not stopped people from dancing in the spacious interior.
Fogelman insists that South “is not being primarily used as a restaurant” and that “its current interior design suggests that South is meant to accommodate large groups of people watching televised commercial sporting events.”
The design he is referring to is the lack of tables inside the restaurant. The tables are 10 feet apart which is conducive to a nightclub environment, Fogelman said.
Fogelman’s other allegations against South include the late night noise caused by intoxicated patrons, noise from “screaming sports fans,” early morning weekend trash pick-up, drug use by patrons on Stanford Street, and the use of street parking, and an increase in vandalism and littering.
Former occupants of 3001 Wilshire — Punch Grill and Ocean Sea Food — did not create such chaos in the community, Fogelman said.
“Santa Monica cares about the people and you can’t just bring in a business that destroys the neighborhood,” Fogelman said.
South manager Jaime Lyko maintains that South has done everything in its power to maintain a positive relationship with the surrounding neighborhood.
“We have been so open to try and work with people and to run this business the right way,” Lyko said.
The owners of the restaurant went door to door prior to the opening to give out their personal contact information should the residents have any complaints, Lyko said. They also have seven security guards to manage the crowd that gathers outside the restaurant on busy nights. The guards patrol the streets until 2:30 a.m. or until the crowd has dissipated.
South is currently engaged in putting up Plexiglas around their patio to help diffuse some of the noise. One of South’s four owners, Adam Milstein, has even gone so far as to offer to soundproof a resident’s home.
“I feel as though we are doing a great deal,” Milstein said, maintaining that he is open to suggestions for further improvements. “I’m up for anything.”
Lisa Winick, a mother of six who lives just a few doors down from South, loves the restaurant and what it has brought to the neighborhood.
“I’ve lived here 10 years and I have seen huge changes,” Winick said. “I feel really badly for people put out, but they [the owners] have done everything in their power to be responsive and helpful.”
Another resident said that he had not had any trouble with the late night noise coming from South or its patrons.
Fogelman is staunch in his assertion that South isn’t good for the neighborhood.
“South and their patrons are imposing on the high quality of life we residents sought in choosing to live in Santa Monica,” Fogelman said.
We are a “small mom-and-pop business,” Lyko said, “and we don’t want anyone to be disturbed.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 4, 2008. Read the original PDF.