Even though Isla Vista has almost three times the number of legal liquor licenses allowed under California law, Dublin’s, a new sports bar and grill on Pardall Road, is scheduled to open as soon as possible.
The liquor license formerly held by Rusty’s Pizza Parlor was transferred over to Dublin’s owner Riccardo Fundanent along with the building. Although Dublin’s will serve beer, it is not classified as a bar because no hard alcohol will be served.
California law limits the ratio of beer and wine licenses to one per 2,500 people in a city. County government is not supposed to issue liquor licenses to businesses within 600 feet of a school, public playground, hospital or church, or within 100 feet of private residences.
I.V. has issued 23 liquor licenses, which makes the ratio of licenses to I.V. residents approximately one to 1,000.
I.V. Foot Patrol Lt. Russ Birchim said he does not anticipate any problems associated with the opening of the Dublin’s restaurant.
“It’s not a new liquor license, it’s an existing license under a new owner,” Birchim said. “Rusty’s was serving beer there for years, so Dublin’s is not going to change anything.”
The excess of liquor licenses, as well as several other conditions, make I.V., according to state law, economically and physically “blighted.” With this distinction, I.V. became eligible to begin the redevelopment project, through which the county, along with the Project Area Committee and a private design firm, can plan to improve the area.
Fundanent said he does not want Dublin’s to be a traditional bar. He said he hopes Dublin’s will be a student-friendly atmosphere where people will come to study, play games and watch TV.
“It’s not going to be a wild place, I just want to have a place where people come and enjoy themselves,” he said. “I don’t think I.V. needs another bar.”