MONTEREY, Calif.- A local nightclub with a lot of police calls in downtown Monterey is now closed for good. Eviction notices were posted on the entrance to Luxe Lounge, Habaneros Mexican Restaurant and Bellagio's Pizzeria at the corner of East Franklin and Tyler Street. The same person owns all three businesses and told Central Coast News in the past that extra restrictions were making it tough to survive.
So we went to find out if these businesses were doomed in this economy by taking a trip up and down several downtown streets, including Alvarado, Franklin and Tyler. That's where we found at least a dozen vacant store fronts. Store owners said the signs and empty windows aren't helping their bottom line.
"I do believe that if all the businesses were occupied, it would bring a lot more people down to Alvarado at least," said Karma Fashion owner Diono Solorio.
Business owners on Alvarado Street said the more places that go vacant, the less foot traffic successful businesses see, having a trickle down affect. Now that the busy tourist season has come and gone, it's up to the locals to keep the economy going.
"I'll put it to you this way, if you don't shop with us then we don't make any money and if we don't make any money we cant go and spend it at other shops," said Music Unlimited manager John Prock.
Luxe Lounge and the others on that corner are a perfect example of that. But, recently Luxe had become a thorn in the city's side after several complaints and police calls that included 24 arrests. We weren't able to find out if Luxe and the other two businesses were closed because of financial reasons. But the owner did said the city restrictions could potentially hurt business. The city said it's doing everything it can to attract new storefronts, but some shops said the rules could be what's making it hard to succeed.
"As far as putting banners up or painting our windows, its pretty difficult, they don't make it easy on us," Prock said.
The city of Monterey said it also wants business owners to keep their storefronts trash free because the cleaner downtown looks, the more likely new businesses will move in.
