by Anna Mavromati
Local business Hotdoggers can sell beer and wine in its store now – but only in adherence with planning commission regulations that were decided on five months ago.
Hotdoggers owner Sandy Saemann approached Manhattan Beach City Council at Tuesday night’s meeting to request permission to serve alcohol from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. and food 24 hours a day. His request was denied.
The decision upholds a planning commission’s conditional use permit that was issued to Saeman earlier this year, which allows Hotdoggers to operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 7 a.m. to midnight Fridays and Saturdays. The restaurant is allowed to serve beer and wine during all operating hours.
Saeman never adopted this permit before approaching council about extending the hours of his restaurant. For the past five months Saeman has instead chosen not to serve alcohol and to serve food until as late as 3 a.m. depending on customer attendance in the store.
Councilwoman Amy Howorth said this was one of the reasons she did not want to extend Hotdoggers’ hours.
“I’m hearing the neighbors actually don’t have a lot of faith because the original [permit] has been thrown out after we worked for a long time hashing it out,” Howorth said. “You are now asking for more when you haven’t even tried that amount.”
Saemann has asked the city to extend his hours three times. He said his proposed hours would help his store stay in business.
More than a dozen residents testified to the council in a two-hour debate. Most expressed concerns about late-night noise from the restaurant and traffic.
“Basically he has not operated the business with alcohol so any conditions you cannot make any judgments based upon,” said Michael Lang, Manhattan Beach resident. “In good faith the applicant could’ve taken the permit.”
“He did not think this through,” Manhattan Beach resident Steve Kim said of Saemann. “He made an attempt, was denied, and has drug this on. This has got to stop. A decision needs to be made.”
Other residents supported extended hours, arguing that Hotdoggers is a small 32-seat restaurant that doesn’t even have a patio, as was originally planned. “Hotdoggers is a family restaurant, not a bar,” said Manhattan Beach resident Brad Wilmer. “I used to reside at the corner of Walnut and Seventeenth. I’m aware of the area. This applicant is an A-plus operator.”
Local restaurateur and Shade Hotel owner Michael Zislis said extra operating hours can make a significant difference in Saemann’s business.
“I think that [the current permit’s closing time] is too early,” Zislis said. “As you know he’s kind of the restaurant and the kitchen for the hotel across the street. I really support just a couple hours more and he’s given up a lot for those couple hours.”
The council denied Saemann’s appeal in a 4-1 vote, with Councilman Richard Montgomery dissenting.
“We’re not deciding today’s decision specifically for Hotdoggers,” said Mayor Wayne Powell. “We’re deciding an entitlement that runs with the property, so I’m looking at today, tomorrow and the future.” ER
