Residents Near Black Cat in Silver Lake on Notice

The space at 3909 Sunset Blvd. in Silver Lake has long been landmark in gay culture--first unofficially, then officially.

In the 1960s it opened as The Black Cat--a safe gathering place for gays, still forced to keep their lifestyle under the radar.

In 2008 the city made the site an official historic-cultural landmark, a nod to the ground-breaking gay rights protest there on New Year's Eve of 1967. 

It predated the Stonewall riots in New York City by two years. Many credit those for starting the gay rights movement.

Locals have been watching the space at Sunset Junction closely, since the bar that replaced The Black Cat there (Le Barcito) closed late last year.

Earlier this winter came the news that the space would be a gastropub, with a nod to the Black Cat, both in name and in presentation.

Now it looks like the countdown really is beginning to open the space.

Residents nearby received a notice last week that they have until June 22 to protest EVI Enterprises L-PSHIP's application to the state for a liquor license.

The address there is ABC LA/Metro District Office 888 S. Figueroa St., Ste. 320 LA CA 90017.

Many have welcomed the arrival of the new gastropub, which will be managed by the folks who also run The Village Idiot.

Will this latest twist bring opponents out of the woodwork?