Commission approves Finnegan’s Wake patio amplification with time limit after neighbor objections

The San Francisco Entertainment Commission voted Feb. 21 to approve an amendment to Finnegan’s Wake’s limited live performance permit to formalize amplified sound on the bar’s rear patio between 4 p.m. and 10 p.m., while excluding outdoor entertainment beyond limited amplified audio for TVs and speeches.

Deputy director Caitlin Azevedo told commissioners the location at 937 Cole St. has been a bar for decades and that the current ownership has held an LLP permit since 2017 and a prior jam permit since 2021. Staff said the business conducted outreach by distributing 75 letters, collected 57 signatures of support and received 13 letters of support as well as eight letters of opposition from nearby residents, primarily concerned about amplified sound spilling into homes.

Owners Dan Surratt and Tom Frankel described the backyard’s long community history and said sound is rarely on—primarily for sports broadcasts and occasional memorial speeches—and that they voluntarily close earlier than allowable hours. “It’s really only on a rare occasion,” Surratt said about sound from the TVs. He added the group has been using outdoor space for memorials and community events and will not host bands or DJs in the backyard.

Public testimony split along neighborhood lines: supporters emphasized the backyard as a safe, accessible outdoor gathering space during and after the pandemic; opponents living a block away said amplified sound can be audible from their homes and disputed having received outreach notices. Commissioners discussed conditions to limit amplified sound hours, require compliance with staff sound monitoring and to enforce limits under the Good Neighbor policy.

The commission moved and the permit amendment passed with recorded Aye votes. Staff will monitor complaints and compliance and follow up as needed.