The sign is up at 710 Third St. for a Taco Bell Cantina—billed as an upscale concept with alcohol sales—and a worker on site said it's opening in a couple of weeks.

But its liquor license is still pending and the case is under investigation at the district office, according to the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. A number of scenarios could play out, a spokesperson said. First, the ABC has to decide if there are grounds for protest. If so, it could set off a series of legal hearings and actions, unless Taco Bell and the hundreds of neighbors who protested its boozy plans can come to some sort of compromise.

If the license is denied, Taco Bell can appeal, but it could see months of legal hassles before it could sell booze—or the party could be shut down completely. If the ABC doesn't find grounds for protest, neighbors can appeal, but in the meantime, Taco Bell could get a temporary liquor license.

More than 400 protests were filed, and we hear neighbors might be organizing a town hall meeting about this next week. Calls and emails to the management of the homeowner's association of the Beacon, in which the Taco Bell is located, were not returned by deadline. Taco Bell did not return calls for comment.

The first Taco Bell Cantina was set to open in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood in August, but Eater Chicago reports the doors are still shut. It also reported that location agreed to hire bouncers after pressure from the city.

Update, 9/4: The Beacon's town hall meeting with the Taco Bell Cantina representative and developer will happen from 7–8:30pm Wednesday, Sept. 9th, at the Beacon's fourth floor clubhouse, 260 King St.