Euclid council requests hearing on liquor-permit transfer for Tremaine's Bistro at former Vibes site

Euclid City Council voted Wednesday night to request a hearing with the state Division of Liquor Control to review a liquor-permit transfer for the business proposed at the former Vibes location.

Director Cooney told the council the administration had received an application from People Enterprises LLC for the site and noted prior police concerns, including noise and the property's proximity to a residential area. "We've reached out to the various departments and heard from the police department that this location in the past, there's been numerous problems with noise and other concerns from neighbors," Director Cooney said.

The council suspended the rules to allow the applicants to come forward. Attorney Mark Doumbis, who said he represents the applicant, provided a cost breakdown of improvements his client made and emphasized the owner's intent to operate the property as a restaurant rather than a nightclub. Doumbis told the council his client had spent on equipment and renovations and summarized the investment by saying the owner had put roughly $134,825 into the property to date.

The owner, introduced in the record as Miss Nimber, described the business concept as a low-key bistro with limited hours, a capacity she estimated at about 45'50 patrons, and no dance floor. "There won't be no bands. There won't be no DJs," she said, adding that music would be limited and volume controlled from a jukebox. She also said she planned unarmed security to help guide patrons to parking and escort guests to their cars; she described the security as informal and identifiable to staff by attire rather than a uniform.

Council members pressed the applicant on several operational issues: whether an emergency exit exists at the rear of the building, parking and spillover into adjacent lots, how crowd control would be enforced, whether the security would be armed or uniformed, and whether required building and fire permits have been pulled. Councilwoman Hanham (Ward 5) told the council there had been "over 124 calls into police" at this address under prior ownership, and she supported asking the state for a hearing to allow fuller vetting of the transfer.

Council President moved for a formal request for a hearing; the motion was seconded and carried on a roll call vote. The administration said the request can be rescinded if outstanding questions are answered and staff confirms required permits have been obtained.

The next step is for the city to notify the Division of Liquor Control that a hearing is requested; staff urged the applicants to work with planning, building and legal departments to resolve outstanding items before any final transfer. The hearing request does not itself approve or deny a liquor license'it initiates a formal review by the state.

Clarifying details recorded at the meeting show the attorney listed line-item investments (hood: $20,625; flooring: $5,500; tables/chairs: $7,000; bar stools: $1,200; glassware/plates: $1,000) and an aggregate figure the attorney cited as about $134,825 invested to date. The applicant said the business name will be Tremaine's Bistro and Bar and that the LLC name is People Enterprises.

The council's motion to request a hearing passed; the administration recommended the applicants work with the city's planning and building staff and legal department while the hearing is scheduled.