Dennis Lluy, the hardworking manager of the revived Yost Theater, is going to appear before the Santa Ana Planning Commission tomorrow, Monday, August 23, at 6:30 pm, to ask for permission to allow a restaurant with a Type 47 ABC license, after hours operation and a banquet facility at the Yost Theater/Ritz Hotel buildings at 301-307 North Spurgeon Street, located in the Downtown (DT) zoning district.  Click here to read the Planning Commission’s Agenda.

Lluy is asking for help in getting this item approved.  He offered this explanation today about the current status of the Yost, on our sister blog, the Orange Juice:

I have been renovating the Yost for the past couple of years and invested my life savings and countless hours dealing with permits, safety issues, and general renovations. The property owners have also invested well over a million dollars since the eighties. The Yost was in dire need of structural upgrades that would help keep the building from collapsing in a major earthquake when they purchased the building.

We have hosted many community events when construction allows. Recently, we have had to stall because at any point we will move on replacing the structural supports that keeps the roof over the stage from collapsing. We have been waiting for the city to approve our plans for several months now. They are short staffed and this keeps us from booking events more than 3 weeks out.

Furthermore, the Yost is restricted from hosting many types of events until all the permits are approved.

The history of the Yost is a sad one.  The property was taken from the Olivos family, back when Dave Ream was in charge of Redevelopment in Santa Ana, before he had become our City Manager.  Click here to read more about that.

We cannot undo those past wrongs, but I am happy that Lluy has undertaken the task of restoring the Yost to its past greatness.  I support this effort and urge my readers to do the same.

Below is a personal message that Lluy recently sent to his Facebook friends regarding this meeting:

Hello friends, neighbors and supporters,

On Monday Aug. 23 at 6:30PM, the Ritz and Yost is scheduled to be on the City of Santa Ana’s Planning Commission meeting agenda at City Hall. The commission will be voting on permit conditions essential to our operations.

For the past two years, the property owners, my business partner and I have worked diligently to renovate the historic Yost Theater into a world-class entertainment facility. We are aiming to be fully operational by June of 2011.

We are requesting your support by attending and/or speaking at the hearing. As we are expecting some opposition, it is imperative for us to show considerable community support. Please let me know if you are interested in attending or have questions.

City Hall Address:
20 Civic Center Plaza
Santa Ana 92703

Thanks,
Dennis Lluy, dennis@yosttheater.com
Ritz and Yost Inc
307 N. Spurgeon St.
Santa Ana, CA 92701
www.yosttheater.com
T:310-493-2050