By Khalida Sarwari
The Campbell City Council this week gave the go-ahead for Sonoma Chicken Coop to host live music acts later into the night.
The unanimous approval of a live entertainment permit by the council allows Chicken Coop owner Jeff Starbeck to keep his restaurant open for live entertainment from 9 p.m. until 1 a.m. Thursday through Saturday as well as for up to 10 special occasions. As it stands now, the business can host live music on those four days of the week, but only until 11 p.m.
“I want to be able to continue live music until 1 a.m. because the night crowd, that’s when they come out–at 11,” said Starbeck.
Starbeck said he wants to begin hosting solo artists or two- to three-piece bands performing jazz, folk and classic rock on the ground floor of his 8-year-old restaurant at 200 E. Campbell Ave.
A conditional-use permit from 10 years ago allowed Starbeck to have live entertainment from 8:30 to 11 p.m. Thursday to Saturday and required him to apply for a live entertainment permit with the police department.
In the event that the live entertainment at the Chicken Coop results in ongoing public nuisance or repeated calls for service, the police department can revoke the permit and prohibit live entertainment at the business.
Starbeck also requested the council’s permission to allow the Chicken Coop to host an open mic night on Wednesdays, but the council asked him to take the matter to the planning commission first.
After the council meeting, Starbeck walked away all smiles.
“I’m excited,” he said. “We’ll hopefully start promoting live music and live entertainment in downtown Campbell.”
