Westside club fined after illegal live shows

A Westside Costa Mesa nightclub that performed illegal remodeling work and held unpermitted concerts for about a month has been fined.

Maison, at 719 W. 19th St., must pay $1,050 after being cited for seven violations based on noncompliance with various building, fire and life safety codes, said Costa Mesa Building Official Khanh Nguyen on Wednesday.

The fine follows a series of recent city and Fire Department inspections, as well as resident complaints, that led to Maison being red-tagged Friday. The club is now closed to the public until further notice and was forced to relocate two concerts that had been scheduled for the weekend.

About a month ago, the club’s owner, Roland Barrera, began an extensive remodeling of his 4,200-square-foot business, which previously was the Lions Den bar.

According to social media accounts, Barrera has hosted at least four musical acts at Maison since the beginning of March and booked several other performers there through the summer.

City officials said Maison does not have a business permit or a permit to have live music. It does have a state-issued beer and liquor license.

If Maison acquires its various permits and completes its inspections, it can operate as a restaurant with a deejay and dancing, but not with live music, Nguyen said.

“He would need a use permit for live entertainment,” Nguyen added.

As of Wednesday afternoon, Maison’s website and Facebook pages were continuing to promote and sell tickets to two shows, scheduled for Friday and Saturday, that feature bands and deejays.

Barrera did not respond to requests for comment Wednesday afternoon.

Steven Chan, a homeowner who lives near the club, spoke publicly of his concerns about Maison to the City Council last week.

On Wednesday, he said he is organizing a boycott of the business and will continue to appeal to city officials.

“I’m going after [Barrera] as far as I can,” Chan said. “Nonstop.”