MISSION VIEJO : Restaurant Approved to Open Where 4 Failed

Since the Bobby McGee’s Restaurant at Marguerite and Avery parkways shut several years ago, three other restaurants have opened on the site, but none has succeeded.

But the owners of Maya’s Place, a new restaurant and concert hall that won the Planning Commission’s approval this week to open there, say they aren’t concerned about the location’s past failures.

“We try not to think of the negatives,” co-owner Tracy Kale said. “This is a completely different concept.”

Kale said Maya’s Place, named after his wife, will feature live reggae music as often as four nights a week and sprinkle in jazz, blues and rock acts.

Room will be set aside for a sports bar and a Japanese restaurant, which will serve grilled chicken, steak and seafood.

At Monday’s meeting, commissioners said they will observe the restaurant and nightclub’s operations for a year, reserving the right to withdraw their approval if alcohol consumption or crowd control become a problem.