Until another owner takes over operations at the landmark British Bankers Club, at the corner of El Camino Real and Santa Cruz Avenue in Menlo Park, the restaurant and bar will not be licensed to serve beer, wine or liquor, according to a spokesman for the state’s Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) agency.
The owners of the club settled with the ABC in October 2011, agreeing to a suspension of the liquor license, effective Jan. 2, 2012, the suspension to remain in effect until the license is transferred to a new owner, ABC spokesman John Carr said in a telephone interview.
The complaint from the ABC calls the club “a disorderly house” that created problems for the Menlo Park Police Department in that officers “were required to respond and/or make numerous calls, investigations, arrests or patrols concerning the conduct and acts occurring in or around said premises, and which thereby created conditions then and there contrary to public welfare and morals.”
The list of 39 incidents from 2009 and 2010 includes sexual battery and sexual penetration of an “unaware victim” on the premises; a terrorist threat; assaults with a deadly weapon; battery with serious injury, including battery on a medic; and numerous public intoxication and disturbance calls.
“The current owners will not be selling alcohol (in California) anymore,” Carr said. In a previous story, the Almanac listed the owners as Lance White and Richard Eldridge. The club has not responded to requests for an interview.
The club’s new owner will have to reapply for a liquor license and undergo the normal local process in acquiring one, which typically includes a background check, Carr said.
The owners received due process and could have hired an attorney and presented their case to an administrative law judge, but chose to settle, Carr said.
The ABC handles “dozens” of similar cases each year, Carr said.
The historic brick building that houses the BBC at 1080 El Camino Real used to house Menlo Park’s administrative and police departments.
> The complaint from the ABC calls the club “a disorderly house”
> that created problems for the Menlo Park Police Department
Ok .. now that the BBC has been closed down .. maybe Menlo Park can lay off one or two police officers .. since there won’t be as many calls for service now ..
Typical response Bob. Blame anyone or everything and deflect attention away from the people who created the problem. The management of BBC.
Hahahahahaha. Good riddance!
This is too bad! Now all the rowdy BBC customers are drinking at Cafe Borrone and they yell as if they were in a bar. Very unpleasant.
Loooooooooooooooooooc!!!!!
Lance YOU AND YOUR FAMILY BAD KARMA think what you did to some very close people how you screwed them BIG TIME WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND THIS KARMA WILL FOLLOW YOU EVERYWHERE IF YOU THINK YOU CAN SCREW PEOPLE AND GET AWAY WITH IT
Typical yuppie/upscale people whining about loud people in a bar. Gee, get a life or move out of town. Sad to hear BBC closing
Were they just following protocol to close the place?
NOT SURPRISED ..
THE PLACE WAS BECOMING A DUMP
OVER 20 YEARS AGO ..
GOOD LUCK
TO THE NEW OWNER ..
I ‘D CHANGE THE NAME ..
Thirty years ago, my then-boyfriend took me to the BBC on a date. Back then, it was an impressive and somewhat upscale place. Within five years, it had begun its downside into what it would soon become, evidenced by young men of questionable attire, appearance, and reputation hanging out there.
Best to start over from scratch, with a new name and a new game.
BBC was a decent place until new ownership took over several years ago. It was a nice place with live music and a dance floor that attracted white collar types. Menlo Park is such an upscale town and deserves a high class yet casual place for people to enjoy. With new ownership I am hopeful the place will become a safe and entertaining place once again.