The patrons of Stateside Restaurant & Lounge are ready get down after the recent approval of a dance permit by the Santa Barbara Fire and Police Commission.
The process of acquiring a permit took about four months and forced Stateside to instigate a “no dancing” policy in October when it first opened in La Arcada Court. It is also a financially costly undertaking, with each permit going for around $1,200. Furthermore, in Stateside’s case, the cost of obtaining a dance permit also included paying for legal advice throughout the process, according to Stateside manager Warren Butler.
Despite the time and monetary commitment involved, Butler said that overall the process went smoothly. “We were very proactive about finding out what the process and requirements were,” he recalled. They made sure that they met all security requirements, including installing cameras and hiring the necessary number of security personnel, agreed to refrain from playing music on their patio area after 10 p.m., and filled out all of the paperwork required by the commission. Butler explained that he saw a jump in business when the club’s permit was approved last month. “We always envisioned a higher-end place for people to lounge around and dance,” he said. “People love to dance in S.B., so if you don’t have dancing, it’s difficult to create a nice lounge atmosphere.”