Restaurateur wants Limelight space Restaurateur wants Limelight space (April 09, 2004)

But a downtown rule banning music after midnight could break the deal

By Grace Rauh

Mark Savinovich has his eye on the former Limelight nightclub in downtown Mountain View. He envisions transforming it into a classy restaurant and live music venue where patrons are drawn through the doors by the smell of Croatian food and the sound of jazz and blues tunes.

Live bands, stand-up comedy nights and salsa dancing would be routine at the now-empty club. But it's unlikely these plans will come to fruition if the city enforces a rule that says no new downtown businesses can host live entertainment after midnight.

The former Limelight nightclub on Castro Street closed more than one year ago and has remained empty ever since. Limelight owners Kareem and Andrew Nahas are currently embroiled in a lawsuit with the city over claims that restrictions on the club's hours and activities ultimately forced its closure.

But Savinovich is not the only person to show interest in the club; there is now talk among others in the city to restore the building back to its original use as a movie theater. If it is "just a restaurant, it will not support the rent," said Savinovich, who is the general manager at Ragusa, a Croatian restaurant on Main Street in Los Altos.

Despite the city's ordinance barring live music after midnight, Savinovich cut a deal with the building's landlord and submitted an application detailing his plans to the city, hoping to sway them. He doesn't want to fight the city, but he does want them to consider his plans, he said. He is the first person to apply to move into the former Limelight building.

Unlike the Limelight, which admitted patrons 18 years old and over and hosted "teen nights," Savinovich's establishment would be for adults at least 21 years old. He has also agreed to pay for extra security to ensure his customers head home at 2 a.m.

The Limelight nightclub drew angry complaints from neighbors in 2002 who said its patrons drank in their cars, tossed cans and bottles in the street, and vomited and urinated in a nearby backyard.

"That is probably why the city is a little bit skeptical because the people before me didn't do what they were supposed to do," Savinovich said.

But despite Savinovich's claims that his club and restaurant will cater to a different crowd, city officials have given no indication that they will budge on the rule.

"It's a universal requirement ... of all new businesses in the downtown," said Al Savay, a senior deputy zoning administrator for the city. "If you come in for a live entertainment or nightclub use permit, those will be your operating" rules.

The Manila Grill, a Filipino-American restaurant on Castro Street, applied to the city in late January for permission to host live karaoke. The restaurant now has karaoke until midnight.

"That was acceptable to them. They are now in operation," Savay said.

But it's not acceptable to Savinovich, who says it would be too risky to only put a restaurant in the cavernous space. And with the rule in place, he believes it will be difficult to lure any prospective nightclub into the Castro Street location.

"It's a big space, and it's not that you can make an office or something," he said. "It is going to be tough for whoever comes."

The city's rule, however, may pave the way for another type of business to move into the Limelight. One city official said he has heard rumors of other plans for the former nightclub -- a return to its original use as a movie theater.

There are "some individuals that have expressed some interest in the art movies," said the city's economic development director Ellis Berns. "Maybe there are some opportunities to utilize it as a theater again."

In the meantime, Savinovich will try to convince the city to change their rules.

"I come from Europe and you know in Europe we party until five, we dance until five," he said.

E-mail Grace Rauh at grauh@mv-voice.com

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