Roosterfish is officially coming to 8948 Santa Monica Boulevard, at the former home of Lisa Vanderpump’s Pump Restaurant. California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) shows liquor license number 651445 for Roosterfish, is currently pending a transfer. The license by primary owner WEHO 8948 LLC is transferring the liquor license from PUMP LOUNGE, P.U.M.P., LLC, where Vanderpump’s husband, Ken Todd, is listed as the managing member.
The transfer could be in response to a lawsuit against Todd who is being sued for nearly $1 million for reportedly breaching his rental contract with the landlords of the Pump Restaurant named after Vanderpump.
https://www.abc.ca.gov/licensing/license-lookup/single-license/?RPTTYPE=12&LICENSE=651445
Roosterfish pending liquor license
Sneak peek inside up-and-coming Roosterfish at former Pump Restaurant spaceOn August 1, 2023, a legal case was initiated by 8948 Santa Monica Partners LLC, a California Limited Liability Company, against P U M P, LLC, along with other parties. The lawsuit, falling under the category of “Other Contract,” was filed in the Los Angeles County Superior Courts, specifically at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in Los Angeles. The current status of the case is listed as pending.
According to reports, 8948 Santa Monica Partners claims that Pump failed and refused to keep and perform” their lease conditions.
The company pursuing the legal action is seeking $750,000 in damages for the alleged breach of contract and an additional $200,000 due to purported failure to transfer a liquor license, which holds an estimated fair market value of $150,000, among other claims.
The owners of 8948 Santa Monica Partners LLC expressed their determined pursuit of damages, emphasizing Todd’s full liability in the matter.
Responding to these allegations Todd stated that when they took over the location, known as Pump, a decade ago, it was a vacant parking area. He maintained that they had planted olive trees and installed antiques like chandeliers, which he claimed to have carefully removed when they vacated the property. Todd also insisted that the liquor license in question had been in use by their business for the past decade and was rightfully theirs, although he expressed a willingness to sell it to the other party at a fair market value.
PUMP was expected to transfer the liquor license to the next tenant upon surrendering the property on July 13, 2023. However, it is claimed that Todd, retained the liquor license, causing a delay in the opening of a new restaurant on the premises. This delay is said to have incurred monthly losses of around $56,500 in base rent and related charges for the landlords.
The property owners assert that Todd engaged in deliberate and malicious fraudulent activities when entering the lease contract in 2013. They believe that Todd’s actions were carried out with a disregard for ethical and legal standards.
The terms of the liquor license transfer have not yet been made public. However, a look inside the new Roosterfish shows some activity that suggests the new restaurant and bar could be close to opening. The interior has a new paint job and the bar looks stocked, possibly for a private event, or some sort of photo shoot.
Sneak peek inside up-and-coming Roosterfish at former Pump Restaurant space
The windows have been since covered up as the City of West Hollywood awaits the grand opening of the new business.
I know it’s not finished yet but so far it looks very bland, sterile and unimaginative.
Good to see this moving along. That will be one fun block from Rocco’s to Roosterfish.
This is a warning to rooster fish. Your fish and chips are $10 at your Venice location they better be $10 here don’t think for one minute that you can raise your prices and think that we’re going to patronize you. I am the price monitor in this town and the minute I see the menu and the prices I will publish them on all my social media. As long as the prices are low we will come. If not there will be a revolt and we will not patronize this business and it will close.. no drink should be… Read more »
Fish and chips are going to $13 in West Hollywood due to the 30% higher minimum wage and benefits. Pay up! Grindr is also blocked unless you pay an additional charge.