The owner of the popular Pacific Grove music spot and bar Pop & Hiss, Michaela Kuenster, has been cited by P.G. Police for “Disorderly House,” a misdemeanor related to a business with a liquor license that is perceived to routinely disturb the neighborhood. The citation is dated Aug. 7.
The code is typically used in cases of bars or other businesses where there are fights, drug use and other problems. In Pop & Hiss' case, it appears to be only related to noise complaints.
Pop & Hiss has faced complaints from a few select residents even before it opened in 2024—Kuenster successfully navigated attempts to block its opening through the City permitting process, as well as the bid for a liquor license through the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.
Since then, P.G. Police have responded to 20 complaints about excessive noise and non-compliance with the bar’s ABC permit, according to P.G. Commander Brian Anderson.
PGPD has issued four citations for non-compliance with the ABC permit and excessive noise.
“The first citation was an administrative cite and was not issued until after we had responded to multiple complaints and had provided several warnings to the management of Pop & Hiss, which is consistent with our practice of education before enforcement,” Anderson says.
Kuenster blames the complaints on a single resident who lives near the business, located in a downtown commercial area mixed with some apartments, homes and condos. Other downtown businesses feature bands, some outside. Pop & Hiss has an indoor performance space and bar, as well as an outdoor patio.
She also says she's been running the business "with one hand tied behind my back," because her permits from the City and the ABC allow different things, curtailing her ability to operate and make money. She says she's never been able to run at full capacity because of the discrepancy.
Her P.G. use permit allows her to serve food and drink until midnight, while the ABC license says she can have no one on the patio and nothing audible after 10pm, although Kuenster believes that regulation is being interpreted in an overly strict manner to restrict music even inside.
Kuenster's challenge is that Pop & Hiss doesn't get busy until 9:30pm, after people dining downtown are looking for a place to go. It's one of the very few entertainment places serving alcohol that's open late.
The day of the most recent citation, Aug. 7, was First Friday in downtown P.G., the bar's busiest day of the month. Kuenster says they call it the "Rent Party" because it's the biggest grossing day that allows them to make their rent.
That night the bar inside and patio were packed and Kuenster says she was attempting to follow three rules—the permit, the ABC license and fire code—by getting the DJ performing that night to wind down so the inside would thin out and she could move those outside into the bar. A police officer showed up at 10:30pm and cited her.
Kuenster has been attempting to get her ABC license changed to match the City permit, without much success. The latest complaint means that process will likely take even longer.
Devin Blankenship, public information officer for the ABC, says the agency cannot comment on any possible investigations or complaints from the public.
He says the agency was contacted in late 2024 by PGPD regarding excessive calls for service at Pop & Hiss related to possible violations of the license conditions involving amplified noise/music past 10pm.
On Jan. 24, 2025, ABC agents issued a notice of violation for the bar’s operating conditions related to excessive noise.