North End Caffe May Get More Hours, Alcohol

Dinner at North End Caffe may soon be served with your choice of Merlot.

On Wednesday night, the Planning Commission affirmed extended hours and an alcohol license of wine and beer for North End Caffe, a family-owned restaurant in north Manhattan Beach.

The decision came with concerns about parking and the intensification of alcohol service in the area, which includes bars such as Upper Manhattan Restaurant and Lounge and OB's Pub & Grill.

John Atkinson, his wife Laura and his parents, all Manhattan Beach residents, have owned North End Caffe for seven and a half years. When Atkinson first came before the commission in 2001 to propose the launch of his café, Council Chambers was packed with his opponents, city staff said.

Now, neighborhood attitudes are reversed. A trove of residents, many who live within walking distance of the café, heaped on praise for the restaurant during Wednesday's public hearing.

Many raved about the quality of the food. One resident drew laughs about his gut: "I probably go there once a week… which might be evident." Another called the Italian-inspired meals "food worship."

Current hours extend from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday to Thursday, and 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday to Sunday. The restaurant mainly serves breakfast and lunch.

Proposed hours start earlier in the morning and stretch later into the evening, from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday to Thursday, and 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday.

The longer hours had commissioners concerned about more traffic congestion in the north end.

City staff referred to a parking demand survey that Atkinson had conducted. Over a period of 12 days, including the Fourth of July weekend, Atkinson said he randomly polled patrons at different hours of the day. His data showed that 83 percent of customers had walked or biked to the café.

"And no, they did not get a free lunch," joked Elizabeth Srour, Atkinson's lawyer.

Commissioners remained skeptical and said the survey appeared to be "self-serving."

However, staff upheld advice from the city's traffic engineer, who had concluded in the report that extended hours would not exacerbate parking.

Srour stressed that the café needed to remain competitive in a tough economy.

"It's a very informal, beach-oriented café," Srour said. "This is not going to change the nature of the business or its relationship to the community."

Supporters of the café implored the commission to help the mom-and-pop shop thrive.

"I don't think eating dinner at 8:15 is a lot to ask," said Valerie Buck, a Manhattan Beach resident who often walks to the restaurant. "I want a glass of wine with my meal. I want to eat like that without having to leave [my] neighborhood. We would really like to have it."

Other locals said they did not want the commission to set a precedent for future landowners.

Gifford Cast, a Manhattan Beach property owner, said 12 years ago he lived two doors down from the café, when it was still a dry cleaner.

Cast said the commission's decision unfairly favored the café and might allow new owners to more easily expand hours and apply for more liquor licenses.

"People that live there are going to be impacted by this change," Cast added. "I don't think it's consistent with what the City Council approved eight years ago. It is a congested area."

Despite reservations about parking issues and more alcohol consumption at later hours, the commission moved forward with their decision.

"It's a very small footprint of a restaurant and it's going to continue to be a neighborhood restaurant," Commissioner Sandra Sevilla-Jones said. "I think this is a close call."

Atkinson said he was pleased to see so much encouragement from the neighborhood.

"I'm really happy that the community came out in support," Atkinson said after the meeting. "I'm glad that the commission saw us for what we are."

The commission's recommendation will move on to the Sept. 7 City Council meeting for final approval.