Coffee Gallery Performance Space to Be Shut Down

It's becoming a story frequently occurring in Altadena--a community event has been found to be in violation of county codes, in this case the Front Stage.

The space hosted free open mic music, comedy, poetry and other shows, but will shut down for the forseeable future, according to Julie Sandoval, the owner of the Coffee Gallery.

The problem stems from zoning codes that limit the presence of entertainment venues on one property, according to Sandoval.  Because the property hosts the Coffee Gallery Back Stage, a separate live entertainment venue run in the same structure by different management, any events held at the Front Stage would be a violation of code.

"They are saying that even though it is open mic and nobody gets paid and nobody pays to attend that it counts as entertainment," Sandoval said Wednesday.

The events at the Back Stage, mostly performances by local bands, will continue to take place at the property.

Sandoval said that getting a conditional operating permit for the Front Stage area could cost upwards of $15,000, a cost that the coffee shop simply can't afford.

For the moment, all events at the Front Stage have been cancelled, including a St. Patrick's Day event scheduled for Thursday.

The county opened an investigation into the shop after a neighbor complained, Sandoval said.

She added that there is a possibility that when the Back Stage's permit expires in August 2012, the Front Stage could be added to the permit, but for the moment she's not certain if anything will change before then.

"We're still trying to wrap our head around it," Sandoval said.

For those keeping track at home, here are some similar recent county decisions:

• The , though event organizers have kept the event going by applying for a conditional use permit.
• Danny's Farm, which hosted a petting zoo for autistic children, had to after they were found to be out of compliance with county code.
• Art hanging at the MonteCedro property was initially found to be a though the decision was later overturned.
• County officials have said they will in town.