End of the Road for Club Bahia?

Tucked away off Dempsey Road, the Fiesta Plaza shopping center is reminiscent of a ghost town after dark. But during Club Bahia's heyday, cars packed the parking lot late into the night on weekends, according to neighboring store owners.

But since the city planning commission restricted Club Bahia's ability to serve alcohol until 10 p.m. and live entertainment until midnight, it has killed Club Bahia's night business this year.

“Because of our limited hours for alcohol sales, the live music business is down," said club manager Eduardo Gomez. "Nine of our employees who were scheduled to work late can't anymore.” 

On March 1, representatives of Club Bahia attended the Milpitas City Council meeting asking for the decision to be appealed.

Michael George asked the council to give the business another chance. He said the business "is hurting badly, and some of their employees are out of work." George also said the restaurant was expanding and shedding its nightclub image.

"The restaurant, soon to be featuring seafood, is being renovated and will change its name to Mariscos Bahia," he said.

The appeal was denied unanimously. Mayor Jose Esteves and the council advised the restauranteurs that they could apply to the planning commission again for longer hours.

Bars and nightclubs are not allowed in this particular shopping center, but restaurants are. 

"I feel really sorry for [Gomez], to be honest," said Binh Nguyen, owner of Hung Vuong Billiards next door. "I was happy to see him get a lot of customers."

Nguyen's billiard hall closes at midnight, while Club Bahia's customers tend to arrive after 11 p.m., he said. that 24 of 31 incidents last year at the shopping center occurred after midnight.

Nguyen said he had seen only one fight.

"They fought all the way in front of my door," Gomez said. "I left. I closed right away."

Now when customers come late at night, they'll see a hand-written sign on the door that says,"Club Bahia is closed for renovations. Excuse us for the inconvenience." 

The restaurant will expand into a vacant unit next door, formerly the Gomez Market. Daily hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and the renovation is expected to be finished in three weeks.

When the renovations are done, representatives of Club Bahia, or Mariscos Bahia, say they plan to reapply with the planning commission.

The business will undergo periodic reviews by the planning commission, beginning in June.