Three protests have been filed recently against a controversial establishment's attempt to transfer a liquor license to a new restaurant operator. The protests have been filed with the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control within the last two weeks as owners of the now-closed G.V. Hurley's try to transfer the liquor license for 2718 J St. to Red Lotus Enterprise, said ABC spokesman John Carr. At least one person filed a protest in an effort to get the conditions of Hurley's liquor license continued to the next establishment by ABC. "The current protest is based on the fact that the past owners of that site have ignored its commitment to ABC," said nearby resident Vito Sgro

A new face is expected to pop up on a controversial Midtown party block in the next few months. An Asian-fusion restaurant named Red Lotus Kitchen & Bar is in the works to take over 2718 J St., where G.V. Hurley's closed its doors last Sunday. Buu "Billy" Ngo and Peter Kwong — the owners of the successful Japanese restaurant Kru just a few blocks down J Street — plan to serve "a little of everything" in a contemporary Asian restaurant whose culinary base will be Chinese food. "It's my interpretation of Chinese, which incorporates everything," Ngo said. Ngo and Kwong have bought the business and will lease the space from G.V. Hurley's owners, a trio of Sacramento developers who own the