B & B Application to Move Before Planning Commission Tuesday

One of Healdsburg’s last remaining "old-school" bars is shutting down at the end of the month, marking another change in the times from when there were some 20 bars lining Healdsburg Ave. from south to north, as long-time residents claim they recall.

The after 25 years under lease to Bill Coleman, will be changing lease April 1, according to building owner Carmen Puccinelli.  She contacted Patch earlier this year to confirm her decision.  At that time she had no firm plans for a new tenant for 420 Healdsburg Ave., however.

For his part, Coleman is applying to move his business (and liquor license) to 20 Dry Creek Rd, next door to DiVine Pizza.

That location, now used only for special events, was from 1982 to 2005 the Tip-Top Lounge, with a classic olive-in-martini glass logo. The Tip-Top was closed by the ABC for violations.

Coleman’s request for the business change comes up tomorrow evening in the Planning Commission meeting, starting at 6 pm at the City Hall. It’s item 5-C: “Conditional Use Permit for a new alcoholic establishment in a portion of an existing commercial building.”

Staff recommendation is to approve the request, according to city documents, and they noted that the B & B owner has an active ABC license with no current disciplinary actions, and the Police Department confirmed that the current location has “a normal number of service calls.”

Michael Kennedy, owner of DiVine Pizza, contacted Bill Coleman when he heard he had lost his lease – as he had also contacted Neil Cronin last year when he lost his lease at John & Zeke’s – offering to let them take over the former Tip-Top located in the same building as DiVine.

Kennedy has been using the former bar as a facility for rent, calling it simply “The Room”. But while there is a door linking the two, Kennedy make it clear that these will “absolutely be two separate businesses. If you expect to have a waitress show up with a menu in the bar, you’ll be surprised.”

For his part, Coleman refused to discuss the move before the Planning Commission votes tomorrow, though he did suggest he would keep the name.

There will be separate entrances, as there were before 2005, and the connecting door may or may not be kept. “It’s still being worked out,” said Kennedy. The bar is about 700 square feet of the 4,700 sq. ft. building, the rest of which is DiVine Pizza.

Other businesses in the area include the Tip Top Liquor Warehouse, Healdsburg Gas & Food Mart, and Big John’s Market, all of whom have off-sale licenses; and Sizzling Tandoor and DiVine, both of which have on-sale licenses, though not for hard liquor.

The proposed bar would be the only establishment in the area other than the two restaurants that serves alcohol for on-site consumption. Coleman’s application does not include food service, live music, or games.

At the B & B Lounge this weekend, there were mixed reactions to the proposed move, but those who lived on the north side of town generally welcomed it. “There’s no other place out there go do anything,” said one man who asked not to be identified. “I think it’ll be a good addition for the neighborhood.”

“Bill’s a good guy,” said Kennedy, “and a responsible bar owner. This will help him out.”

The last party scheduled for The Room is on April 6, and Kennedy estimated it would take about 30 days for new tenant to prepare it for a bar and open for business.  

If the Planning Commission approves Item 5-C, that is.

But what of the B&B building at 420 Healdsburg Ave? Inquiries to Puccinelli were unanswered at press time, but we’re asking you, What would you like to see go here?