Controversial Pasadena Bar Proposes Expanded Offerings Same Day as Hearing Officer Review of Its Efforts to Correct Past Complaints

Pasadena’s Hearing Officer denied a number of requests for new offerings by an Old Pasadena bar and restaurant he was reviewing Wednesday for its track record in taking steps to correct previous complaints by police and other city departments.

Der Wolfskopf Bar and Restaurant, 72 N. Fair Oaks Ave., submitted its application for the additional new offerings and service changes on the day of the public hearing by City Hearing Officer Paul Novak to review over three dozen corrective items he had earlier ordered the establishment to fix in order to keep its conditional use permit.

“We knew that this hearing was coming as of March of this year,” City Hearing Officer Paul Novak said. “The applicant has had that entire time to submit changes to staff, conditions that they would want, and yet we did not see anything arrive with the city until earlier today on the day of the hearing. That speaks volumes to the applicant’s efforts to make these changes.”

Novak said it was not fair for the public not to be properly notified of Der Wolfskopf’s proposed changes.

“But more importantly, had those been received, two other things could have happened. One, the city could have reflected those requested changes in the notice which would have alerted those folks within 300 feet or whatever the radius is that the applicant is seeking changes to the conditions and we may have had a very different hearing tonight.” 

Novak then refused to allow Der Wolfskopf Bar and Restaurant to extend its hours of its operations, to collect entry fees and to show live Sunday football games.

“All of those things that are being requested that I did not grant have the ability to create noise impacts on the surroundings,” Novak said. 

Novak however approved the request to allow the rear outdoor patio door to remain open while the patio is open for business and the request to allow the use of the exterior door serving the basement from the Fair Oaks Avenue frontage for patron ingress/egress when the basement dining area or the main dining area is reserved for a private group dinner. 

The modified CUP provides that the rear outdoor patio should be closed at all times to minimize noise impacts and requires the use of the exterior door only when the basement dining area is reserved. 

Between 2020 and 2021, the city received numerous complaints against Der Wolfskopf,  resulting in inspections by the Pasadena Police Department and Pasadena’s Code Compliance Division. These inspections revealed several violations to the conditions of approval to the original CUP that was approved back in 1992. 

A city-initiated hearing officer public hearing was held in March. At this hearing, Novak adopted new and modified conditions in order to curtail the issues observed mostly related to noise, alcohol consumption beyond the approved operating hours, and other unpermitted activities on-site such as karaoke and customer dancing at the basement which were not permitted under the original CUP. 

The modified CUP also required the city hearing officer to conduct a review at six months and 12 months from the date of approval of the modified CUP  to ensure the operator’s compliance. 

The City staff has found that Der Wolfskopf has complied with the conditions of approval as granted by the Novak in March, with the caveat that the sound system and lighting in the rear outdoor patio shall be removed. As such, it recommended that the Hearing Officer acknowledge that the conditions of approval have been adhered to and require the applicant continue to adhere to the conditions of approval.

The conditions of approval established in March, limited live entertainment to occur only on the raised stage area in the first floor of the restaurant to reduce noise impacts. 

“The business operator has removed evidence of live entertainment from the basement and outdoor patio areas,” Case Manager Alison Walker said.

Walker also remarked that after reviewing Der Wolfskopf’s social media accounts, there were also no advertisements of promoter-produced parties or performance events or events with cover charges or minimum drink orders— all of which were specifically restricted under the modified conditions. 

According to Walker, since the March hearing, the Pasadena Police Department and Code Compliance Division have not received any complaints or calls against Der Wolfskopf.

According to city staff, the decision of Novak on Der Wolfskopf cannot be appealed. Der Wolfskopf will return after six months for another review of its compliance to the modified CUP.