Downtown SF Might Allow Outdoor Booze Like New Orleans

Thanks to the SF Standard for sharing the news that San Francisco is floating the idea of turning part of downtown San Francisco an“Entertainment Zone” which would allow bars and restaurants to sell alcoholic beverages to be consumed outdoors.

If the proposal pasess, San Francisco would be the first city in the state to allow a designated urban zone for outdoor consumption of alcohol.

The proposed zone would be in the Financial District on Front Street, between California and Sacramento streets. The zone would benefit bars such as Harrington’s Bar and Grill, Royal Exchange, and Schroeder’s which hosts wildly popular annual block parties for St. Patrick’s Day and Oktoberfest.

However, there’s some red tape the city would need to wade through to create the new entertainment zone including revising the local open container law. Plus, the new zone would only be active during specific outdoor events permitted the state’s Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. While, San Francisco already does allow alcoholic drinks to be sold at outdoors events, currently, only outside licensed vendors are permitted to sell the drinks. The new ordinance would allow local brick-and-mortar businesses to to sell drinks.

Mayor Breed Proposes Creation of First Downtown Entertainment Zone and Announces Grants to Support Downtown Events

Proposed legislation will enable local restaurants and bars to participate in beverage sales during outdoor events and activations  New grant program will fund entertainment and other revitalization projects

May 3, 2024

San Francisco, CA – Today, Mayor London N. Breed joined Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), the Office of Economic Workforce and Development (OEWD), business and community leaders to announce new legislation that will create San Francisco’s first “entertainment zone” in Downtown, which will allow restaurants and bars to sell alcoholic beverages for consumption during outdoor events and activations.

The legislation establishes a framework for the designation of future entertainment zones, revises local open container laws to permit the operation of these zones, and designates Front Street, between California Street and Sacramento Street, as the City’s first entertainment zone. San Francisco was authorized to create entertainment zones under SB 76, authored by Senator Wiener. If approved, this zone will allow local bars and restaurants to operate and sell alcoholic beverages as part of organized outdoor events that take place on this block.

To support activations in entertainment zones and throughout Downtown, Mayor Breed has also directed the Office of Economic and Workforce Development to partner with San Francisco New Deal to launch the Downtown ENRG (Entertainment & Nightlife Revitalization Grant) Program, a program that will offer up to $50,000 to fund new economic revitalization projects to support new activities, events, and campaigns to attract patrons and increase downtown activity.

San Francisco’s First Entertainment Zone

San Francisco’s proposed Entertainment Zones build off of Senate Bill (SB) 76, introduced by Senator Wiener and passed at the California Legislature last year. The Entertainment Zone Act paved the way for San Francisco – the only city in California currently – to designate entertainment zones to operate during special events permitted by the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC). Under the bill, San Francisco could establish entertainment zones through the adoption of a local ordinance by the Mayor and the Board of Supervisors.

Mayor Breed’s legislation would enable three bars along Front Street (Schroeder’s, Harrington’s, and Royal Exchange) to sell open beverages for consumption during special events in the zone. These bars, along with the Downtown SF Partnership and BOMA, are working to launch a new recurring street closure on this block that could involve live entertainment and other activities during the zone’s operation. Similar programs have been successful in supporting small businesses and commercial districts in a number of other states, including Michigan, Ohio, and North Carolina.

Mayor Breed’s legislation will be introduced at the next Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, May 7th.

Downtown ENRG (Entertainment & Nightlife Revitalization Grant)

The arts, culture, nightlife and entertainment sectors play critical roles in the transformation of San Francisco downtown and in commercial corridors citywide by delivering unique experiences that attract residents, workers, and visitors.

Qualifying projects for the grant program could include unique and expanded live performance programming at downtown venues, outdoor events connected to adjacent businesses, the establishment or operation of “entertainment zones”, and new festivals that occur across multiple venues, among other ideas.  Eligible program expenses include permitting costs, planning expenses, marketing material and design, event coordination, food & beverage, artists stipends, equipment, and on-site staff.

To maximize impact, priority will be given to projects involving collaboration between multiple existing businesses to attract patrons to a corridor and projects or campaigns in Mid-Market, Civic Center, Tenderloin, SoMa, the Financial District, Union Square, or Yerba Buena.

The application for the Downtown ENRG grant is now open. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, with priority given to applications submitted before June 15, 2024. To learn more, please visit www.sfnewdeal.org/ENRG.

Entertainment Drives Revitalization

The creation of entertainment zones and grants program are components of the Mayor’s Roadmap to San Francisco’s Future, and build on a series of recently announced entertainment initiatives designed to showcase and support the San Francisco music and entertainment sector, boost neighborhood vitality, activate open spaces and enhance the City’s economic revitalization through arts and culture. Combined, the goal is to secure an important new source of revenue to boost San Francisco restaurants and bars while transforming Downtown as a 24/7 destination.

Last month, Mayor Breed announced the City’s new SF Live Concert Series, which debuts on May 4 at the Golden Gate Park Bandshell. Additional events will take place across May and June at Fulton Plaza, Union Square, and the Jerry Garcia Amphitheater, and at locations citywide through November. More information about all upcoming SF Live events may be found at www.sflivefest.com. Other economic activations, including Vacant to Vibrant which will announce its second cohort later this month, and Bhangra and Beats, will soon kickoff its second series of outdoor events.