The revocation of the building's liquor license, previously reported as a suspension, is being temporarily stayed for 180 days solely to allow the licensee time to sell it. During that window, the license is first suspended for 30 days and then remains indefinitely suspended until a transfer is completed. In plain terms: the license is being forced out permanently, but ABC is giving the operator a brief opportunity to sell it rather than lose its monetary value. While that process plays out, alcohol service is legally shut down across the entire building.
ABC confirmed that four major violations led to this outcome, all tied to long-running issues between April 2024 and September 2025. Regulators accused the operator of failing to correct nuisance conditions after being warned, maintaining what state law calls a “disorderly house,” creating ongoing law-enforcement problems that required repeated police responses, and allowing unlicensed and unauthorized individuals to operate the business - a serious violation of ownership laws. On October 8, the licensee agreed to a settlement revoking the license with a 180-day stay.
SanDiegoVille asked ABC directly whether the fatal August 3, 2025 shooting inside Cielo Rooftop Lounge was considered part of the case. While the ABC Accusation does not explicitly cite the incident, an ABC representative said that the shooting “would have fallen under” two of the counts - the allegations involving a disorderly house and repeated law-enforcement problems. Those counts cover a broad period that includes the date of the killing, meaning the incident is consistent with the behaviors ABC identified as contributing to the license’s revocation and suspension, even if not named outright.
The agency also clarified a key point that has confused the public: despite appearing as four separate nightlife venues, Mr. Tempo Cantina, Cielo Rooftop Lounge, The Roxbury Nightclub, and Cowboy Cantina were not legally separate businesses from ABC's standpoint. ABC records show they all operated under a single liquor license, with shared entrances, hallways, restrooms, and operational control, despite assertions that several of the venues were operated completely independently.
ABC confirmed that four major violations led to this outcome, all tied to long-running issues between April 2024 and September 2025. Regulators accused the operator of failing to correct nuisance conditions after being warned, maintaining what state law calls a “disorderly house,” creating ongoing law-enforcement problems that required repeated police responses, and allowing unlicensed and unauthorized individuals to operate the business - a serious violation of ownership laws. On October 8, the licensee agreed to a settlement revoking the license with a 180-day stay.
SanDiegoVille asked ABC directly whether the fatal August 3, 2025 shooting inside Cielo Rooftop Lounge was considered part of the case. While the ABC Accusation does not explicitly cite the incident, an ABC representative said that the shooting “would have fallen under” two of the counts - the allegations involving a disorderly house and repeated law-enforcement problems. Those counts cover a broad period that includes the date of the killing, meaning the incident is consistent with the behaviors ABC identified as contributing to the license’s revocation and suspension, even if not named outright.
The agency also clarified a key point that has confused the public: despite appearing as four separate nightlife venues, Mr. Tempo Cantina, Cielo Rooftop Lounge, The Roxbury Nightclub, and Cowboy Cantina were not legally separate businesses from ABC's standpoint. ABC records show they all operated under a single liquor license, with shared entrances, hallways, restrooms, and operational control, despite assertions that several of the venues were operated completely independently.
This type of arrangement is not uncommon in large multi-level venues in San Diego or San Francisco, but it means that any violation - no matter where it occurred in the building - counted against the same license. When that license was revoked and suspended, every bar within the complex became unable to serve alcohol immediately.
This centralized structure is also reflected in the strict license conditions governing the property, including food-to-alcohol sales ratios, rules for rooftop service, and requirements for monitoring activity in all theater and spectator areas throughout the building. ABC’s position is that the operator was responsible for the entire environment in the complex, not just one floor or concept.
The enforcement comes during a tumultuous year for the building. The Gaslamp’s Mr. Tempo, or possibly other business location's under the same license, has been repeatedly ordered closed in 2025 by county health inspectors for major vermin violations and unsanitary conditions, including closures in February, September, October, and November.
This centralized structure is also reflected in the strict license conditions governing the property, including food-to-alcohol sales ratios, rules for rooftop service, and requirements for monitoring activity in all theater and spectator areas throughout the building. ABC’s position is that the operator was responsible for the entire environment in the complex, not just one floor or concept.
The enforcement comes during a tumultuous year for the building. The Gaslamp’s Mr. Tempo, or possibly other business location's under the same license, has been repeatedly ordered closed in 2025 by county health inspectors for major vermin violations and unsanitary conditions, including closures in February, September, October, and November.
The complex also became the focus of broader public-safety scrutiny following the August homicide of Navy veteran Antwan Blu inside Cielo Rooftop Lounge. Police say bystanders detained the suspect and retrieved a handgun before officers arrived. While ABC has not tied its enforcement directly to that incident, the agency says the shooting fits within the conduct that factored into the license revocation.
Complicating matters further, signs suggest that parts of the Theatre Box nightlife experiment may already be winding down. Although not officially confirmed, Cowboy Cantina appears to have ceased operations, with its phone line disconnected and all references to the San Diego location removed from its website and social media. The Roxbury Nightclub, a revival of the once-famous LA hotspot that spawned a hit movie, has taken down its San Diego social media presence entirely. The Roxbury heavily promoted its September 2025 San Diego debut.
Meanwhile, Mr. Tempo Cantina remains open, operating with food and non-alcoholic beverages only, and recently assured customers on Instagram that its Little Italy sister restaurant, King & Queen Cantina, is unaffected. Cielo Rooftop Lounge has not publicly acknowledged the suspension and continues to accept reservations for upcoming dates.
The Theatre Box complex has been unstable for years. Once envisioned as a celebrity-backed luxury cinema and Sugar Factory destination when it opened in 2018, the property has cycled through concept after concept. In recent years it was reconfigured around the Tempo-branded nightlife model, but ABC’s findings confirm that everything operating within the building ultimately fell under one liquor license - and now under one revocation.
Because the revocation is only temporarily stayed, alcohol service cannot resume unless the license is transferred to a new owner. If no transfer occurs within the 180-day window, the revocation becomes final, and the current operators would need to apply for a brand-new license - a process that can take months and may draw objections from neighbors, police, or city officials.
SanDiegoVille has reached out to Mr. Tempo Cantina, Cielo Rooftop Lounge, and Cowboy Cantina for comment regarding the license revocation, the ongoing closures, and the future of the property. No responses have yet been received. SanDiegoVille has also requested the full disciplinary file from ABC and public records from the city and county and will publish additional details as soon as they become available.
The Theatre Box complex has been unstable for years. Once envisioned as a celebrity-backed luxury cinema and Sugar Factory destination when it opened in 2018, the property has cycled through concept after concept. In recent years it was reconfigured around the Tempo-branded nightlife model, but ABC’s findings confirm that everything operating within the building ultimately fell under one liquor license - and now under one revocation.
Because the revocation is only temporarily stayed, alcohol service cannot resume unless the license is transferred to a new owner. If no transfer occurs within the 180-day window, the revocation becomes final, and the current operators would need to apply for a brand-new license - a process that can take months and may draw objections from neighbors, police, or city officials.
SanDiegoVille has reached out to Mr. Tempo Cantina, Cielo Rooftop Lounge, and Cowboy Cantina for comment regarding the license revocation, the ongoing closures, and the future of the property. No responses have yet been received. SanDiegoVille has also requested the full disciplinary file from ABC and public records from the city and county and will publish additional details as soon as they become available.
Originally published on November 17, 2025.