The owners of California Karaoke say they will take over the location recently vacated by Hudson's Grill.

After Hudson's owner David Katz filed for bankruptcy on March 31, it was unclear whether the karaoke bar would move into the corner location at Monterey and Chorro streets.

Doc Thompson says that the bankruptcy slowed the process, but he hopes to open the bar by the end of May. The karaoke bar was originally expected to open in March. It will serve similar faire to Hudson's with a menu of burgers, fries and mixed drinks.

Katz filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which discharged him of all debts. There were no assets listed, according to the bankruptcy notice, filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Central District of California.

Katz, who announced plans to close Hudson's -- a downtown staple for 20 years -- in December 2005, said the lack of available parking during construction of the Court Street shopping center led to the closure of the 1950s-style diner.

Once parking was difficult to find, sales plummeted by 30 percent, he said.

"I supported the project," he said. "But it ended up killing me."

Thompson, however, is not concerned because the project is finished. A new downtown parking structure on Palm Street is set to open in late summer.

-- Dawn Rapp