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Jupiter Beerhouse and Restaurant’s proposed expansion into adjacent Café Panini would replace the cafe, zoning officials told the Planet Monday. 

The Berkeley Zoning Adjustments Board (ZAB) unanimously approved the expansion permit last week to extend Jupiter’s operations into the exterior and interior space of Café Panini at 2115 Allston Way. 

Jupiter owner John Martin purchased Café Panini from its previous owner. Martin also owns the Triple Rock Brewery in North Berkeley and operates the Bear’s Lair Pub at UC Berkeley. 

Café Panini and Jupiter share a common entrance on Trumpetvine Court, a commercial courtyard and passageway accessible from both Shattuck Avenue and Allston Way.  

ZAB secretary Steve Ross said the new permit would apply Jupiter’s existing conditions to its new space, including an extension of its alcohol license and hours of operation. 

According to the zoning staff report, the proposed expansion area has never been open for dinner or sold alcohol in the past. 

Panini, which is open from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for lunch everyday, allows customers use of its garden courtyard. Jupiter’s current hours of operation are from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. 

The staff report also states that the project would expand an “existing, marginal business” by extending its food and drink offerings and making its hours consistent with that of Jupiter. 

The report cites Martin as saying that the cafe had four owners in the last 16 years and provided minimal economic return for all of them. 

Calls to Martin for comment were not returned. 

City Economic Development Director Dave Fogarty confirmed that the cafe would close after Jupiter expands into its space. 

“It won’t be a separate cafe anymore,” he said. “It wasn’t doing very well. It did well 10 years ago under one of the managers. It became a hot spot and then slowly dwindled.” 

The staff report says Jupiter has shared access and patio seating with the site of the proposed project for many years. 

The development involves interior modifications to the expanded space, including the construction of a bar and reconfigured interior seating.  

The proposed project site consists of two parcels of land—2181 Shattuck Ave. and 2115 Allston Way—which were developed to make Trumpetvine Court suitable for outdoor dining and small musical performances.  

The one- and two-story buildings on the property cover less than 75 percent of the combined lot area, and the outdoor space has been developed into an outdoor dining area with arbors, decks and patios furnished with tables and chairs. 

Right across Allston Way from Cafe Panini is the Gaia building, which includes Anna’s Jazz Island. 

Although zoning staff has not received any letters of objection for this project, there are several objections from neighbors about noise for a pending application for legalizing outdoor music at the site.  

Martin is working with the city and an acoustical engineer to address these concerns, and this application is scheduled to appear before the board in the next two to three months.  

Although the Berkeley Police Department supports Jupiter’s expansion, it has discouraged an increase in outdoor amplified music at Jupiter in response to multiple noise complaints from a neighbor regarding the musical performances in the patio at night.