Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use Alcohol License topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning Commission approves Sushi Kio restaurant CUP with extended hours, removes happy-hour signage restriction
Summary
The Monrovia Planning Commission approved a conditional use permit for Sushi Kio at Foothill Park Plaza, allowing indoor sale and service of beer and wine under a Type 41 license, amended to extend hours to 11 a.m.–midnight and to remove a condition restricting happy-hour advertising.
The Monrovia Planning Commission on a unanimous roll call approved a conditional use permit (CUP 2025-0005) allowing incidental sale and on-site service of beer and wine for Sushi Kio, a new restaurant proposed at 131–141 South Myrtle Avenue in the Foothill Park Plaza (the Vons shopping center).
Staff planner Austin Arnold told commissioners, “Tonight before you, we do have a conditional use permit, to allow incidental sale and on-site service of beer and wine for a new restaurant, Sushi Kio,” and described the site and applicable code. The site is in the Neighborhood Commercial zone and is within 500 feet of Library Park, the community recreation center and the International Full Gospel Fellowship Church, which triggers the CUP requirement in the municipal code.
The nut graf: The commission approved the CUP with two amendments the commission requested — expanded operating hours to 11 a.m. to midnight daily and removal of a condition that barred advertising of happy-hour drink promotions in windows or on doors — and adopted the remaining staff conditions that limit alcohol to indoor service, require that the establishment operate as a bona fide eating place and cap alcohol at no more than 33% of quarterly gross sales.
Supporting details: Arnold said the tenant space previously housed restaurants with alcohol service and that the earlier CUP had expired after the prior operator vacated the space in late 2024. Sushi Kio’s proposed interior seats about 72 patrons, including approximately 16 sushi-bar seats (one configured for ADA access), two ADA restrooms and a back-of-house kitchen. The applicant proposes primarily indoor dining and the incidental sale and service of beer, sake and wine. Arnold said the business had been noticed within 300 feet and that staff received no public comments.
Commissioners asked clarifying questions about product categories covered by a Type 41 license. One commissioner asked whether sake is covered by a Type 41; Arnold replied, “It's a rice technically, it's a rice wine,” and confirmed it is treated under the wine category for licensing purposes. Commissioners also discussed hours and signage. Staff explained the city cannot regulate sign content beyond time, place and manner restrictions; the commission agreed to remove the specific happy-hour advertising restriction from the conditions for consistency with First Amendment constraints and recent practice.
No members of the public spoke for or against the CUP and the applicant, represented in the audience by Mr. Yim, declined to present beyond staff’s report. The motion to approve the CUP as amended passed on roll call: Commissioner Austin — yes; Commissioner Janicek — yes; Commissioner Scheffler — yes; Commissioner Stehira — yes; Acting Chair Cheryl Rose — yes. The approval keeps in place staff’s other conditions: alcohol service limited to indoor dining, alcohol to be accompanied by food and the 33% quarterly-sales cap.
What’s next: The applicant is completing tenant improvements and anticipates opening in the coming weeks; any change in hours or intensification of activities will require an amendment to the CUP and further review by staff and the commission.
