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UPDATE: According to Steven Ling, his former partners went to the Secretary of State to dissolved Ling's business license, which in turn enticed the City of Tacoma to revoke his business license.

Stephanie’s Gospel and Jazz is back in action. After a brief hiatus, owner Steven Ling has reopened the restaurant/music venue after a legal dispute over ownership forced the spot to close. Ling has been to court to secure operating rights from former partners, who still contend that they are the rightful owners of Stephanie’s, which is named after Ling’s oldest daughter. That dispute was temporarily abated when a judge gave Ling operating rights, with final ownership scheduled to be decided in April, assuming court dates are adhered to. Both parties entered into what Ling describes as an informal partnership, and diverged over different visions for the restaurant. The locks have been changed more than once, said Ling.

In the meantime, Ling is moving forward with plans to create Tacoma’s premier jazz and gospel spot. Formerly La Costa Mexican restaurant, and briefly home to Gringo de Loco restaurant, the space on Pacific Avenue looks pristine these days. The interior is fully remade, with a sparse and tasteful layout, new hardwood floors, new lighting, new seating, new kitchen equipment, a beautiful, oversized hardwood stage and a new menu. They even kept the epic, wood-carved Mayan calendar in the entryway.

“I want to have place where people can come and just relax,” says Ling, a former retail manager, fashion model and entrepreneur; and rescue investor for the now-defunct Djembe Soul, which closed last year, despite Ling’s capital contributions.

Ling grew up in New York, where his family built a hole-in-the-wall restaurant that eventually expanded into a hefty enterprise. Ling spent the bulk of his after-school life watching his parents run the restaurant, and learned the art of cooking from his uncle, master chef and then director of the Museum of Modern Art. He says his transition into the restaurant business has been a long time coming.

“Right now I’m really focusing on the atmosphere,” he says, noting that until courts decide who is the rightful owner, he will have to wait on a liquor license. “People will fall in love with the food and the music.”

Stephanie’s serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, with the menu emphasizing Italian and southern cuisine - from California to Florida southern, not just soul food. Menus are packed with choices, but still evolving, says Ling.

“I’m really working to make sure the food is on point,” he adds.

Entertainment will start with live, smooth jazz on Fridays, and will eventually include Wednesday night comedy, spoken word on Thursdays, jazz or gospel on Saturday, and all-day gospel Sundays. Ling says he wants to populate the talent roster with plenty of local performers, and will hold auditions soon.

[Stephanie's Gospel and Jazz, 928 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.722.5649]