The 'Coop Get's Live Entertainment Permit

The Campbell City Council meeting on March 6 to hear an application for a live entertainment permit resulted in an approval for the applicant.

“In the time that they have been in business, they have demonstrated that they are good neighbors,” said Vice Mayor Evan Low.

The applied for a Live Entertainment Permit to allow it to have live music at its 200 E. Campbell Ave. location Thursdays to Saturdays from 9:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. as well as for up to 10 special occasions during the calendar year.

Jeff Starbeck, owner of the Coop wants to provide customers with musical entertainment from solo artists or two to three-piece bands, playing mostly jazz, folk and light/classic rock.

"I'm excited because prior to this my music had to stop at 7:00 p.m. and we would lose business to the other places in town," Starbeck said. "This gives me opportunity to keep things open later and promote live music."

Starbeck's existing conditional use permit approved in 2002 limits live entertainment at the establishment from 8:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Thursday through Saturday but he said he rarely stayed open past 1:00 a.m.

Although Starbeck has a CUP that allows live entertainment at that building, he needed a live entertainment permit for his business.

The city attorney explained that this was because the CUP stays with the building long after a tenant is no longer located there whereas the live entertainment permit is specific to the business.

The 'Coop is the first business to apply for this permit since the approval of the updated .

“Sounds like this may be a test piece for us," said Mayor Mike Kotowski. "Grandfathering in, for lack of a better term... the business being there before the new law was in place.”

Along with the slight change in hours, Starbeck also requested the addition of live entertainment on Wednesday nights for a weekly open mic night, with a closing time of 11:00 p.m. but council directed him to take that to the planning commission, then return.

Council unanimously approved the eight-year Campbell establishment's initial request, with an amendment to waive fees associated to taking the addition of Wednesday nights to planning, permitting that he did so within the next six months.

At any time, the council has the ability to rescind the permit if a public nuisance forms or if there is a significant rise in calls for service at the establishment.

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