Effort to reopen Hacienda Cantina and Beach Club underway
The Hacienda Cantina and Beach Club in Palm Springs may not be closing for good. We’ve learned there’s an effort in the works to reopen the restaurant and outdoor bar to the public.
Monday it stopped day-to-day operations, only open for private parties.
News Channel 3 and CBS Local 2 found out the owner, Richard Meaney, is working to retool the business. If he can’t, he’ll have to write the city of Palm Springs a big check, paying back tens of thousands of dollars of tax payer money.
“I like Hacienda. We have enjoyed being there,” said Palm Springs resident Janeen Carlo.
“I was sad for the people I know that work there,” said Palm Springs resident Mark Lammers.
A sign on the door says the restaurant and bar is only open to private parties, but we’ve learned of a plan that may reopen it to everyone.
“He hopes that it’s a temporary closure,” said Palm Springs city manager David Ready. “He” being owner Richard Meaney.
Ready said Meaney applied to the city and Alcoholic Beverage Control to change its permits.
“There is a restriction on the outdoor the pool and the patios in terms of having alcohol which obviously inhibits his ability for the longer term for the health of that business to make it,” said Ready.
We’ve obtained a copy of Hacienda’s current liquor licence and Meaney’s proposed changes. He wants to extend the hours he’s allowed to serve alcohol and play music in the outside pool area, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Meaney also wants permission for dancing in the pool area until 10 p.m. It’s currently not allowed. Finally, Meaney is asking for the noise restriction to be lifted.
“There will not be live entertainment. It will just be able to have alcohol and the restaurant on the outside patio, so if he can achieve those two things he is hoping he can reopen in a couple of months.
The people who would talk with us say they want to see it reopen.
“I don’t think alcohol at 6 is a problem. Music might be for some neighbors, but I think we can weigh that off with the economic benefits the jobs that it brings,” said Lammers
“I don’t have any opposition to it, but I don’t think it’s right if they use the closing as leverage to gain access to extended hours that were part of the original deal,” said Carlo.
If Hacienda closes permanently, the city will want its $250,000 in incentive money back for not staying open for three years.
“Our requirement is that it has to be maintained as an ongoing restaurant. If not, we would be requesting the cities portion back,” said Ready.
Ready said it will take about 30-60 days to go through the permit process, that’s how long the city will give Hacienda to reopen before it starts asking for the incentive money back.
