Trouble in Margaritaville

Andrew Edwards

A lawsuit involving a once-popular Mariners’ Mile hangout is

scheduled to be heard Monday in Orange County Superior Court.

The lawsuit stems from the January closure of Margaritaville

Mexican Cantina, a Coast Highway restaurant, by its owner James

Bellino.

Bellino’s landlord, identified in a court document as Marta

Bhathal, has alleged Bellino failed to keep Margaritaville running

and to pay increased rent, among other claims.

The lawsuit seeks to evict Bellino from Margaritaville, Bhathal

attorney Jillyn Hess-Verdon said. The lawyer said her client wants

the restaurant to be reopened if she wins her case.

“Bring back Margaritaville. That’s the whole point,” Hess-Verdon

said.

The lawsuit also asks the court to require Bellino to pay an

undetermined amount of damages and unpaid rent with interest.

Bellino did not answer multiple calls for comment Thursday.

Michael York, Bellino’s Newport Beach-based attorney, said he does

not comment on pending litigation.

In February, Bellino said in an interview with the Daily Pilot

that he had no plans to reopen Margaritaville. A banner, later

removed, was placed over the restaurant’s sign advertising the

restaurant for sale or lease. At the time, Bellino declined to offer

specific plans for the restaurant.

Hess-Verdon said Bellino’s comments, published Feb. 25, came as a

surprise.

“It was kind of one of those things where we said, ‘What? I can’t

believe he said that,’” Hess-Verdon said.

A complaint against Bellino was filed Feb. 28, the first Monday

after Bellino’s remarks were printed. The filing was amended in

March.

Closing Margaritaville, Hess-Verdon said, is a more serious

allegation than not paying rent increases.

Bellino purchased the restaurant last year and became responsible

for the lease in July.

Before Margaritaville’s closure, the restaurant hosted meetings of

the Surfrider Foundation and was a gathering spot for both surfers

and motorcycle riders.