The family of a man killed in a drunk-driving crash in McAllen last year stood before city commissioners this week to oppose a new bar permit, arguing the proposed venue is too closely tied to the night their father died. Commissioners ultimately tabled the request after the city could not immediately produce documentation tied to the applicant's other bar.
Mark Watts, who owns the downtown bar Santa Diabla, told commissioners he applied for a conditional-use permit to move another one of his establishments, Loo Loo Bar, from 302 South 17th Street to 324 South 17th Street, according to MyRGV.com. That address is the former site of NY 17th Floor, and Watts proposed renaming the relocated venue Heaven Nightclub. The family of 54-year-old Juan Carlos Perez, a McAllen resident who died in a fatal drunk-driving crash in May 2025, made their case against the permit at the commission's meeting on Monday.
A Night That Ended in Tragedy
Perez's son, Michael Campos, told commissioners the crash was discovered at approximately 2:30 a.m. during what had been a birthday celebration, and that he and his wife arrived at the scene around 3 a.m. to find his father lying on the ground. The driver, 40-year-old Dionicio Luna Aguirre, was charged with two counts of manslaughter after allegedly driving under the influence following a night of drinking at the former NY 17th Floor. A probable-cause affidavit said Aguirre ran multiple red lights after taking 17 shots before crashing into a 2015 Nissan Altima driven by Perez, per the same MyRGV.com reporting; both Perez and Gianncarlo Humberto Corriabustos died at the scene.
Aguirre has since pleaded not guilty and been indicted on two counts of intoxication manslaughter with a vehicle, two counts of collision involving death, one count of driving while intoxicated for a third or subsequent offense, and two counts of murder, according to court records cited by the outlet. Campos said his family filed a lawsuit against Santa Diabla and NY 17th Floor alleging over-service, among other accusations. A separate lawsuit filing reviewed by MyRGV.com alleges Aguirre was over-served at both bars and was obviously intoxicated to the extent that he presented a clear danger to himself and others.
Disputed Ownership, A Name The Family Calls Offensive
Perez's widow told commissioners she opposed the permit because of her husband's death and alleged Watts was an owner of NY 17th Floor, urging commissioners to prevent other families from being affected. Watts said he had no connection with the company operating NY 17th Floor at the time of the crash, other than pursuing the purchase of the property, and both city staff and Watts disputed the claim that he owned the establishment. Watts also said NY 17th Floor had been under investigation by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission and was shut down earlier this year, adding that security footage showed the driver was at the establishment for approximately 12 minutes.
Joshua Campos also opposed the proposed Heaven Nightclub, alleging it would carry over the previous establishment's owners and management, a claim city staff and Watts disputed as well. Michael Campos said he viewed the proposed name Heaven Nightclub as offensive to his family given the circumstances of his father's death. Watts, for his part, said there was a lot of misinformation circulating and alleged that charges against Santa Diabla had been dropped.
Bigger Space, Same Fight Over Downtown Bars
Watts told commissioners the move was about square footage, not controversy: “We are at 900 square feet. We just want a bigger location,” he said, explaining the proposed site is a much bigger space. He added that the venue's name would change regardless of whether the relocation is approved and said simply, “Heaven is gonna happen.”
Mayor Javier Villalobos said keeping McAllen residents safe remains the commission's priority and noted the city had already closed many bars on 17th Street. Commissioners ultimately tabled the conditional-use permit item after requesting documentation of alleged violations tied to Loo Loo Bar's mixed-beverage permit at its current location, documentation that was not available at the meeting.
Part of a Wider Crackdown on Downtown Bars
The dispute lands amid a broader city enforcement push against downtown nightlife. McAllen has revoked permits for a number of downtown bars after officials said operators failed to prevent underage drinking, according to ValleyCentral. The city issued citations to 20 nightclubs that failed to take preventive measures, and age-verification technology along with UV ink to mark patrons under 21 are now being prioritized citywide, the station reported. During one municipal court docket, bar operators entered 34 misdemeanor pleas resulting in $11,115 in fines for operating without a special-use permit or violating its terms, and the city issued 38 citations over a single weekend for fire-code violations, operating without permits, and special-use-permit noncompliance.
