Third Avenue Village in Chula Vista is lined with businesses, including the Chula Vista Brewery.
While others have parklets with additional outside seating, Chula Vista Brewery does not. Owner Timothy Parker took it down earlier this week, under orders from the city.
Now he’s pursuing a claim against the city, saying he was treated unfairly.
“I just really want to ask the city to be fair and treat every business equally and give us all a fighting chance to survive,” Parker said this week.
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Parker had previously purchased a permit back in August 2020.
Chula Vista Brewery has the support of the People’s Association of Justice Advocates. Shane Harris, the president of the association voiced his support at the claim announcement on August 10th.
“Nobody else on this street has gone through what Timothy Parker and Chula Vista Brewery has gone through,” Harris stated.
The claim states, “The City has unlawfully demanded the business to remove its outdoor curbside and sidewalk sitting areas that were in place for approximately one year.”
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Attorney Cliff Dover filed the claim on Parker’s behalf.
“There are other businesses up and down Third Avenue that were told that their outdoor seating arrangements were grandfathered in,” Dover said. “However, the Chula Vista Brewery was not afforded that same accommodation and we just want to know why.”
Just down the block from Chula Vista Brewery, Thr3e Punk Ales has a parklet of its own. Kevin Lewis is a co-owner and the head brewer.
“We’re good friends with Tim and all of them. We always help them out where we can. It’s an unfortunate situation,” Lewis said.
Lewis says the city is in the final stages of approving their permit for a new parklet and have been responsive to the Brewery’s parklet plans.
Dover says Chula Vista Mayor Mary Salas and the city attorney have agreed to meet with Parker in the next couple of days. He hopes that a resolution can be reached and Chula Vista Brewery can put its parklet back up.
