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Committee approves two off-sale liquor license transfers for NOPA and SoMa shops
Summary
The Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted on Jan. 23 to prepare resolutions finding that two proposed transfers of Type 21 off-sale general liquor licenses—one for Bit Bitters and Bottles in NOPA and one for City Choice Market in SoMa—would serve the public convenience or necessity.
The Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted on Jan. 23 to prepare resolutions finding that two proposed transfers of Type 21 off-sale general liquor licenses would serve the public convenience or necessity.
The committee, chaired by Supervisor Matt Dorsey, considered a transfer to Bar Ants LLC, doing business as Bit Bitters and Bottles, for premises at 1275 Fell Street in the North of Panhandle (NOPA) neighborhood, and a separate transfer to City Choice Market Inc., for premises at 301 Fifth Street in South of Market (SoMa). Both items were advanced to the full Board of Supervisors with positive recommendations.
The San Francisco Police Department’s Alcoholic Beverage Control liaison unit reported no letters of protest or support for either application. Officer Froines told the committee that Bar Ants’ proposed location is in Plot 642C and was identified as a "high crime area" and in Census Tract 164, a "high concentration area," and that Park Station raised no opposition. The SFPD recommended approval of the Bar Ants transfer with a condition that the petitioner "actively monitor the area under their control in an effort to prevent the loitering of persons on any property adjacent to the licensee premises as depicted on ABC 253," the report said.
For City Choice Market, Officer Freunds reported the premises are in Plot 264A and a census tract identified as a "low concentration area," with Southern Station raising no opposition. The SFPD recommended similar conditions for City Choice Market: active monitoring to prevent loitering and responsibility for keeping adjacent areas free of litter as depicted on ABC 253.
Hesham Matana, speaking on behalf of his father Ali Matana, said the owners purchased a struggling business and hoped the license would help revitalize the store. "You guys made this super seamless, process for us," Matana said.
Supervisor Dorsey moved that the clerk prepare resolutions determining that issuance of each Type 21 off-sale license "would serve the public convenience and necessity." No public commenters spoke on either item during the hearing. The committee recorded two affirmative votes and the clerk announced the motion passed for each item; the clerk noted that items acted upon at the committee are expected to appear on the Board of Supervisors agenda for Feb. 4, 2025.
Votes at a glance - Bar Ants LLC (Bit Bitters and Bottles), 1275 Fell Street (District 5): motion to prepare resolution finding issuance of a Type 21 off-sale general license would serve the public convenience or necessity — committee recommendation: prepare resolution/positive recommendation; vote tally: 2 ayes, 0 noes, outcome: forwarded to full board. - City Choice Market Inc., 301 Fifth Street (District 6): motion to prepare resolution finding issuance of a Type 21 off-sale general license would serve the public convenience or necessity — committee recommendation: prepare resolution/positive recommendation; vote tally: 2 ayes, 0 noes, outcome: forwarded to full board.
The committee record shows recommended conditions from SFPD for both transfers requiring the petitioners to actively monitor adjacent areas to deter loitering and, for City Choice Market, to maintain adjacent areas free of litter as depicted on the SFPD/ABC map referenced in the reports. Both items will be placed on the Board of Supervisors agenda on Feb. 4, 2025, unless otherwise noted.
