Planners approve late hours for restaurant
The Costa Mesa Planning Commission unanimously approved new hours for a Newport Boulevard restaurant and bar that will allow the business to stay open as late as 2 a.m.
Commissioners voted Monday to allow The Hub, 1749 Newport Blvd., to open at 7 a.m. every day and have 2 a.m. closings on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
The Hub — which describes its fare as “embracing the classic American craft of food and spirit” — would be required to close by 11 p.m. Sundays through Wednesdays. Prior to the commission’s vote, the business was unable to open earlier than 9 a.m. or stay open past midnight.
The commission also agreed to allow the restaurant to stay open until 2 a.m. on New Year’s Eve, regardless of which day of the week it falls on.
“It allows them to compete and provides them an opportunity to continue to do business,” said Commissioner Tim Sesler of changing the hours.
Owners of The Hub said the rationale for requesting longer hours was that the business was “at a competitive disadvantage” because of its limited hours, according to planning documents.
The business originally sought permission to stay open from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily, but city staff and nearby residents balked at the idea, saying they were worried that the longer hours would create extra noise and other disturbances late at night, especially on weekdays.
In addition to accepting the revised schedule, The Hub’s owners agreed to limit use of the restaurant’s rear parking lot, which is close to some residences, so no one can park there after midnight on any day of the week.
The commission previously considered The Hub’s request for longer hours in August but ended up continuing the item. At the time, the Police Department didn’t approve because of the “number and nature” of service calls they received to respond to incidents at The Hub.
The Police Department later withdrew its objection to extending the weekend hours, as there have been no service calls since the commission last reviewed the issue, according to city documents.
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