All Marc Michieli wants for Christmas is for county officials to give him the green light open a take-out hot dog stand on Castro Valley Boulevard.
At the moment, however, the 50-year-old San Leandro native is mired in red tape that revolves around the seemingly simple phrase "take out" food.
Michieli who has lived in Castro Valley for the last 15 years, recently discovered to his chagrin that an element of the county business plan for the Boulevard prohibits take out food joints where he wants to open Muzo's Grill to sell hot dogs and sausage links.
It's a mess, as Patch explains in a story about the situation: Michieli says a county official initially okayed the project; he spent thousands of dollars to open Muzo's Grill; then he ran into the no-take-out-food rule and got shut down.
Michieli lays out his case in this video. He is joined by his daughter Taylor, 17, and her friend Lisa Nikssarian, 17, who hope to work at Muzo's.
It's not over yet.
County officials are working with Michieli to solve the impasse.
Here's what we know so far.
We'll update that story when we can.
What's your take?
Seriously though, let him open the darn thing. I think it would be a great little stand for the community. No take out on the blvd? Is it because there is no in-door seating? Doesn't fenced in property area with a single picnic table fit under the dine-in rule? Every restaurant on the blvd does take out, especially Chipotle right across the street! As long as the building is up to code and the food is fresh, I say "TWO LOADED DOGS, PLEASE!"
Oh Please!
The difference is that all these other establishments have a national brand behind them with money, influence, & legal horse power. If the plan is for no take out on the Boulevard, fine, get rid of it …. ALL of it. Otherwise, give a local independent businessman a fair shake. BWT – I’ll take 2 with grilled onions .. To GO !
I really wanted a better burger joint, and now there's BLVD. I've been talking about a hotdog/sausage joint, and look ... someone wants to open one. I'd like to add a shishkabob specialist to this list please. Side note (and more on the articles main topic): What if Muso's had a small sunroom attached for seating, or even just a covered patio on the side? Nothing crazy big, but just large enough to have a couple of tables of something. Would that allow the business to open? I can't see it being the "no take-out" only thing stopping it. There are several places already here with take-out but have dining available as well with the exception of that pizza place in the Lucky's shopping center that you take home to cook yourself.
That’s a cheap shot! Apple Computers was started in the garage of an old house .... KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken to those of us over 40) started in gas station, Knotts Berry Farm stared as an open air road side stand …. Who knows where this will go or what it could do for the community. Of course this business needs to comply with permits , heath codes , etc – that’s a given. I think the county would make issue of those issues long before shutting it down over the “take out” issue. The way I see it - We are where we are. It was the county that orchestrated the whole re-development process and left this place “front & center” on The Boulevard. Would you rather see someone clean it up & try to make a go of it – or – an abandoned, run down, boarded up eye sore ?
That little space has been there my whole life. Franks Footers. Carry Outee. Just to name a couple. I was very happy to see someone purchase it and give it the proper dignity. I am sorry about the underhanded move being pulled here by the county. Here's my idea. Mr. Michieli should consider changing the place to a container shop, eco friendly of course, and give a free hot dog with the purchase of the container size of choice. Buy a size #1 for $5 (which could hold, oh, say, a hot dog and chips, should the purchaser want to make use of it that way). So, you see, he would be playing by the rules. It's not a take out place, it would be a Container Shop. Good Luck Mr. Michieli. I hope things work out for you. And I hope Alameda County will help the community preserve this place and it's rich history in Castro Valley.
Besides, with all the hope that there will be more pedestrians on the street, what better option that to have a walk-up food stand. If that was not the hope, then why did CV spend so much money on pretty sidewalks?
Let Mr. Michieli open his business! As a person with many years experience in the catering industry, I must say the remodeled kitchen looks very clean and functional. Mr. Michieli did a lot of work on the place and it shows. I plan to line up for a TO GO order when Muzo's reopens!
Sandy Cortopassi
Maybe it's as simple as relabeling yourself outdoor dining as Rai W. stated above, instead of calling yourself "take-out". I'd love to see Mr. Michieli respond to this Patch post himself to shed some light on what's going on. Maybe as a community (as a whole) something can happen.
Full steam ahead Even though building officials would not issue him permits, Michieli said he fixed the sink, replaced the water heater, retiled the store and painted the exterior. He obtained a business license on November 7 and opened Muzo's on a trial basis a few days later during the "Meet in the Street" festival that celebrated the completion of the upgrades to Castro Valley Boulevard. "Customers loved the place," Michieli said. He also opened Muzo's over the Thanksgiving weekend. (The businessman, who says he's already sunk upwards of $30,000 into the project, balked at this additional expense.) Looks like spending an additional $1500.00 may or may not get the county to waive the grandfather clause preventing any new building or building left vacant for longer than 30 day to be used for walk-up or drive-up food buildings. If Burger King or any other on the BLVD were to close and no new restaurant picked up the building in 30 days or less, we would lose that building as well.
Mr. Michieli came to Supervisor Miley’s office and spoke to Kriss Kokotaylo who has been researching this issue with Planning, Fire, Environmental Health and the Public Works Building Department. The building Mr. Michieli chose for his business is quite old and rundown. It is my understanding, at this time, that this building was red tagged for safety issues previous to Mr. Michieli opening. No one is allowed to open a business in a building that is red tagged. Some years ago Castro Valley Business owners and citizens came together in a public venue with the County Planning Department and created a “Specific Plan” for the CV downtown. This plan governs what can and cannot me done in the CV business district. Unfortunately this business does not conform to the plan. It may be possible to change the plan through a public process. It may be possible to obtain a variance. All possibilities are being looked into. Bob Swanson Supervisor Nate Miley’s Office
You have so much community support, it will be just a matter of time when the county will let you open up and sell hot dogs! So many people in our community have been patiently waiting for someone like you to step up and get that little shack back up and running again... Your idea is what we old timers miss about our Castro Valley. We just ask that it meets the Building & Health codes and "Looks good" on the outside as well as the inside. We will and do support you in getting your shop open! Best of luck to you. I Can barely wait for a Polish w/ mustard & onions!
- A promise was made. - Relying on the promise was reasonable or foreseeable. - There was actual and reasonable reliance on the promise. - The reliance was detrimental. Mr. Michili may have a good case! - Injustice can only be prevented by enforcing the promise.