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Inferno sports bar raked across coals
by Jason Dietrich
For neighbors of Dante’s Inferno Sports Bar the patio outside the South Redondo pub is a hot issue. They’ve been complaining for three years about noise coming from the patio, which never received a city permit.
The council voted 3-2 Tuesday to uphold 13 restrictions that that planning commission placed on the use of the patio. Councilmen John Parsons, District 5 and Mike Gin, District 3, voted against the motion, saying they felt harsher restrictions were called for.
The bar’s list of owners includes Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist Paul Conrad, boxer Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini and ex-professional football player Fred Dryer.
The restaurant’s new manager, Dick Brown, said noise complaints could be curbed by strong management, and asked that the patio be allowed to remain open until 11 p.m. on weekends and 10 p.m. on weekdays.
"Our goal is to make this work and be good neighbors," he said.
Tenants and property owners close to the bar said they were regularly awakened by noisy patrons on the patio and leaving the bar.
David Gauvreau, who owns apartments across the street from Dante’s said installing double paned windows hasn’t kept some of his best tenants from moving out due to the late night noise. Gauvreau asked that the patio be closed.
"We don’t want to put them out of business, but we’re in business as well," he said.
City Manager Lou Garcia recommended that the patio be closed until the bar secured the proper permits, citing police complaints and what he described as blatant planning code violations.
"It sets a bad precedent, undermining the respect for enforcement of city laws and regulation," Garcia said.
The planning commission’s conditions require that the bar provide valet service at all times, erect a noise wall between the patio and the street, close the patio by 8 p.m. Sunday though Thursday and 9 p.m. weekends, and serve alcohol only with food on the patio.
The council will receive a report in three months on the success of the noise-abating modification.
"If we have to keep sending police officers out there at $50 an hour you’re going to hear from me whether or not you get a report," Garcia told the council. ER