Sorry, We're Closed: Pancho's Grill

There's been plenty of talk (lack of liquor license, zoning issues, angry neighbors, etc.) about Pancho's Grill, the is-it-open-or-not spot on the corner of 7th and Passyunk. Here's the latest from A.D. Amorosi: 

"Back in January, I reported on the troubles that the residents surrounding Pancho's Grill on Passyunk at Seventh claimed to be having with the space that included license issues, unfriendly management and possible nefarious dealings outside of the venue. Philadelphia's Licenses & Inspections finally got a look-see at Pancho's and placed several orange stickers on the glass-front triangular restaurant that had one hearing that took place in March. But from the looks of things, angry neighbors and inspectors going up against the owners of Pancho's aren't the only problems. Pancho's claims to have problems with one particular neighbor and do not seem willing to let sleeping, or supposedly stealing, dogs lie. Allegedly, one of this establishment's supposed detractors and her company, area architect Laura Blau and her BluPath, a "theif (sic) in our midst" — "has stolen a substantial sum of money from this proprietor," and her "greed, hate, and lunacy" has "contributed to the opposition" of that same business. While we have tried to contact Pancho's ownership (and would welcome any response), BluPath architect Blau is currently speaking with Philadelphia police about said signage in Pancho's window. "I'm not so much worried about the words they posted, than I am becoming a target," says Blau, mentioning that her interactions with Pancho's owner ("alternately known as "Michael Ortega" amongst other names" she says) have been documented by phone calls to the police and area councilperson Mark F. Squilla. Blau, along with other Bella Vista neighbors, registered complaints about having a restaurant and bar establishment in an area so close to a school, to say nothing of, in their opinion, additional nuisances such as noisy restaurant elements and questions of trash storage and removal. As for the accusations of "stealing money," it was from a "non-refundable retainer made on designs that we rendered for the restaurant," claims Blau. "Mind you, they only paid half of that, and I just let the other half go." More on this in June when the next L&I meeting takes place."