A restaurant and bar for sci-fi fans is reopening at 400 E. Campbell Ave., in the space formerly occupied by Lvl Up. 7 Stars Bar and Grill is slated to open later this summer.
Named after the seven-member family of owners Paul and Marya Cunha, 7 Stars features sci-fi-themed trivia, artwork and décor.
“This is a place for all fandoms,” Marya Cunha said. “We encourage everyone’s different fandoms.”
The Cunhas hosted trivia nights at the former 7 Stars location in San Jose, with themes like “Star Wars,” “Star Trek” and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Fans of shows like “Game of Thrones,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “The Mandalorian” gathered at the bar and grill for TV nights.
They hosted themed karaoke nights where patrons were encouraged to dress up, as well as May 4th celebrations and Halloween parties.
“We always say that I reach for the stars and he keeps me grounded,” Cunha said of her husband. “Without me, it would be too risky, and without him, it would be too scandalous.”
The Santa Clara residents are planning a large menu for the new location and are excited that there will be a farmers market across the street from their restaurant. They plan to repeat the custom menus and drinks they’ve already created for client events. They’d also like their new space to be more family-friendly during the day, with evenings after 8 p.m. reserved for patrons 21 and older.
They declared the 7 Stars as a safe zone for everyone, regardless of color, race, religion, gender expression/identity or who you love, Cunha said.
“We pride ourselves on how we train our staff,” she added. “Once we set the tone, we attract the customers we wanted to attract. We want everyone to feel welcome.”
The Cunhas closed their previous location on Bascom Avenue in 2021 due to their lease expiring and the uncertainties surrounding the COVID pandemic. The bar and grill operated for 10 years in San Jose.
They were looking for a new location, though they didn’t expect the search to last more than two years. The Cunhas had a location in escrow and spent nearly $15,000 on permits and legal fees, only to see the deal fall through.
“We’ve been to a lot of other places in the meantime,” Paul said. “This is the only place that doesn’t need anything; it’s ready to welcome us.”
The Cunhas hope the 3,000-square-foot restaurant and bar will provide the same experience for customers as the previous location, even though some previous quiz topics relied on staff knowledge.
“The Disney show was crazy. We didn’t realize how popular it would be,” Marya said. “We had to turn people away at the door.”
Both owners had early connections to the “Star Wars” franchise, including seeing some of the first three original films in Century Theaters. Marya has a family friend who worked on the original “Return of the Jedi” film. The Cunhas had a “Star Wars”-themed wedding complete with Jedi robes and lightsabers.
However, the couple says the restaurant’s decoration came about organically.
“I took my toys out of the shed, that’s how it all started,” Paul Cunha says. “And over the years, it grew.”
“We always knew if someone was new at the bar,” Marya said, “because they would walk around and look at things.”
Customers also pose for photos in front of the giant model of Jabba the Hut.
“Apparently (Jabba was) a ‘Pokémon Go’ stop before we even knew what it was,” Marya said.
In May, the Cunhas launched a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter to raise money to reopen the restaurant. With a goal of $15,000, the fundraiser exceeded expectations, with 171 backers pledging about $40,000.
“We did very well,” Paul said.
One of the Kickstarter prizes was a behind-the-scenes tour of the new bar and restaurant, which is why the Cunhas hadn’t posted any photos of the interior on social media as of press time.
