The Starving Artists Bistro owner said he will not host live music until a licensing issue with California Alcoholic Beverage Control is sorted out. Photo by Ben Hensley

Less than a month after reopening, a well-known Fresno live music spot may have to shut off the mic — maybe permanently — after their liquor license transfers were completed this week.

Starving Artists Bistro, which reopened two weeks ago, announced on Facebook Thursday it was putting on hold its live performances, including open mic nights, informing scheduled acts that they will be contacted with further details.

Starving Artists Bistro owner Tony Gomez said California’s office of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) informed him that the liquor licenses transferred from the previous owner would not permit a live music venue.

“It’s huge for us because we’re disappointing people that were already booked for us,” he said, adding that the restaurant had an event scheduled for Valentine’s Day.

“This could change at any time,” Gomez said about the restriction.

Gomez was hopeful the restriction would be temporary, hoping to see music return to the venue within four months — the maximum amount of time the licenses would be under the “temporary” status.

“It is what it is for now,” Gomez said Friday morning. “We don’t want to risk our liquor license.” 

Uncertain road ahead

A spokesperson for ABC said the previous owner’s license stipulations restricted live music. While ABC’s Type 47 licenses do not inherently prohibit the performance of live music and other live events, Devin Blankenship, public information officer with ABC, said that previous stipulations on the license remain in effect under the new ownership.

Removing the conditions would be at the discretion of ABC.

Starving Artists Bistro opened its doors in 2013 under the ownership of and Nykole Sullivan and her mother Terry Hibbs, marketed as a venue for musicians and performers to showcase their talents. The Sullivans closed Starving Artist Bistro in September 2024, health concerns, as well as shifting industry regulations and staffing shortages.

Former music coordinator and chef at Starving Artists Bistro said in the 12 years prior to the 2024 closure, the restaurant never had any issues with ABC licenses, even catering to ABC employees and local law enforcement.

“The whole time of having that 12 years of having a liquor license, not one single incident — not a minor issue, not a deviation of the liquor license,” Sullivan said. “If I was doing something wrong, ABC would have told me.”

Sullivan added that the business even carried licenses from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, displaying the licensing on a wall behind the stage, ensuring that artists’ performances were able to continue without copyright or other licensing issues.

Starving Artists Bistro still holds three types of ABC licenses. Type 47 authorizes alcohol on-sale at general eating establishments and Type 58 allows catering. A Type 77 license acts as an event permit, authorizing businesses to host live-music and other events in properties adjacent to the licensed premises, such as a parking lot.

Blankenship added that the business could still host events in its parking lot area, per ABC’s Type 77 license.

The restaurant is located at 9447 N. Fort Washington Rd., #101, next door to The Woodward American Grill and near Aadar Indian Bistro, Teppan Tora and The Standard Restaurant and Club. It is one of several restaurant options in the Riverview Shopping Center, but the only space with a front-facing, outdoor patio.