A new restaurant will open in place of Madison’s
Neighborhood Bar and Grill in Westwood at the end of fall quarter
or the beginning of winter quarter.
The venue will open under new ownership, with a new name and a
clean slate from past violations.
Madison’s was sold after having its liquor license
suspended multiple times. The most recent suspension ““
resulting from an alleged violation of state underage drinking laws
““ began Sept. 18 and ends today.
New co-owners Leigh Slawner and his father Benjamin Slawner took
over Madison’s lease on Oct. 1. They had been planning to
take over the location ““ once a popular student hangout
““ for over a year, Leigh Slawner said.
He said he hopes Madison’s past suspensions will not be
associated with the new restaurant.
“Everything related to Madison’s is over. None of
those (licensing) problems transferred over,” he said.
Leigh Slawner said customers with valid ID will have access to
full service liquor at their tables. He believes his business will
thrive in Westwood, catering both to students and the business
community.
Some students claim Madison’s was beginning to lose its
popularity, and do not mind that it will close down and become a
new restaurant.
“I haven’t tried to go back since the middle of last
year,” said Matt Guidert, a third-year cognitive science
student.
Milton Zampelli, the previous proprietor, had interest in
selling Madison’s as early as November 2002, after a public
meeting was held in order for the Westwood community to discuss its
concerns about Madison’s. Zampelli could not be reached for
comment on Sunday.
In April 2000, the California branch of Alcohol Beverage Control
suspended Madison’s liquor license for the first time,
claiming it did not effectively restrict underage drinking.
The ABC placed Madison’s on a 10-day suspension beginning
in August 2001, claiming a secondary bar was used improperly in
serving clients.
Madison’s had another infraction involving underage
drinking, which led to a 25-day suspension of its liquor license,
assessed in September of this year.
That offense was committed in May 2002, when a bouncer allowed a
19-year-old UCLA student using false identification into the
building, according to a 2002 ABC report. The report further stated
that once in the bar, the student bought an alcoholic beverage from
a bartender who did not check her ID.
To ensure the new restaurant will not have problems with
underage drinkers, Leigh Slawner said he will establish
communication with the LAPD about his business practices in terms
of alcohol policies.
One reason he believes the restaurant will be set apart from
others is the prospective theme planned for it, Leigh Slawner
said.
The restaurant’s theme, which he would not discuss,
“is pretty much going to make it unlike any other place in
the city,” he said.