Home > Austin Music Source > Archives > 2010 > April > 10 > Entry
Police shut down Guero’s outdoor stage
Rob Lippincott of Guero’s Taco Bar said he’s not being defiant, but “trying to keep my empoyees in jobs” by hosting live music today after being shut down last night for not having a building permit for his outdoor stage. Lippincott said the city approved his site plan correction Wednesday, but that data is not yet in the computer. The amendment allows the stage, but Lippincott probably won’t receive his building permit until next week.
“This is the biggest day of the year on South Congress,” says Lippincott of today’s Lonestar Rod & Kustom Roundup. “It’s bigger than South by Southwest.” Before being cited, he planned a full day of music, starting with Eve Monsees at 2 p.m. Police have told him that they’ll come by at 6 p.m. to make sure he’s in compliance. Meanwhile, Lippincott says members of city staff are trying to work out a stay with the city manager’s office.
Lippincott was first cited several months ago when it was discovered that he built the outdoor beer garden and stage without going through the correct permitting process. He’s been hosting music since then, he says, with the understanding that he was moving forward on getting all the proper permits.
“I think it’s going to come to a head at 6 o’clock,” Lippincott says. “I mean, can I do it or can I not do it.”
Don Pitt from the city’s music manager’s office could not be immediately reached Saturday.
Comments
Austinites love to be heard, and we're giving you a bullhorn. We just ask that you keep things civil. Leave out the personal attacks. Do not use profanity, ethnic or racial slurs, or take shots at anyone's sexual orientation or religion. If you can't be nice, we reserve the right to remove your material and ban users who violate our Visitor's agreement. Click here to report comment abuse.
By Gary Etie - Austin City Permits
April 10, 2010 1:28 PM | Link to this
Excellent report, Michael. You are one of the only journalist that gets the facts straight. It should be an interesting afternoon.
By SoCo
April 10, 2010 3:29 PM | Link to this
Go white boy, go white boy, go.
By The City of Austin
April 10, 2010 4:10 PM | Link to this
Welcome to Austin - The Music Permit Capital of the World
Permits come first before music. File in triplicate please!
By GeorgeW
April 10, 2010 8:55 PM | Link to this
The stage has been there well over three years and the city recently discovered it. Shut them down and do a four hundred thousand dollar study to find out why the City took four years to figure out he didn’t have the proper permits. Or, go away and stop being idiots. Live Music is why the Convention Center exists.
By RAYMOND
April 10, 2010 9:10 PM | Link to this
Best of Luck to Rob Lippincott of Guero’s Taco Bar for his effort in maintaining a live music venue and keeping his employees employed. Jeers to the City of Austin managers office for not pushing this paper work through and letting Guero’s know what is expected of them. Rock On!
By Gary Etie - Austin City Permits
April 11, 2010 2:49 PM | Link to this
Update, Michael, here’s how it went down Saturday - - After Friday night’s shut-down of music at Guero’s, & with the return of the APD rep on the PACE team promised for Saturday evening, acting as Mr. Lippincott’s agent, the City Manager’s office was contacted - - We are a City Manger form of government. No? - And truth be known, the City Manager’s office has actually been very helpful, throughout the mess that last year’s ammended Outdoor Music Venue Permit Ordinance has caused - - The PACE representative for Code Enforcement received the word that the music at Guero’s was not to be shut-down, and a 2nd Citation issued, after all. And the music played …