Voyeur, the ultra-posh West Hollywood “restaurant” caught in an undercover investigation serving no food, only booze, has applied with the California Department of Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) to obtain an appropriate license.
Voyeur seeks a bar license. Photo by WeHo News.
The bondage-themed club, which first rocketed to national attention when the GOP Young Eagles’ spent $2,000 there in 2010, suffered ill attention in February when an undercover expose of liquor license scofflaws targeted and hit Voyeur, a restaurant according to the city’s records that serves no food.
The ABC took notice and charged Voyeur, along with two other WeHo-adjacent clubs, SBE’s Hyde and Industry, with violations of their liquor license.
ABC says that all the clubs could face suspension or revocation of their current liquor license.
The establishments carried type 47 licenses, given by the state to places that act as restaurants primarily but which also have a full bar.
The type liquor license required for Voyeur’s current operation as a nightclub would be a 48 On Sale General Public Premises, the same license required of a bar or tavern.
According to Brendan Rouse, Assistant City Manager Anne McIntosh’s deputy, the city must also approve a new Conditional Use Permit for the new liquor license, in fact, he said, “businesses usually come to us first.”
In this case, he supposed that Voyeur sought to come into compliance with the ABC and would approach the city if they succeeded in gaining their tavern license.
“It’s possible that the ABC could approve their application and the city could have second thoughts about allowing yet another bar to operate,” he said, “or the ABC could deny and the city approve it.”
According to the “restaurant’s” web site, there is a kitchen, but no tables except for cocktail tables.
The ABC’s public comment and protest period remains open until November 16.
