Commission approves Hotel San Francisco entertainment permit with sound and security conditions

The San Francisco Entertainment Commission voted to approve a place-of-entertainment permit for Hotel San Francisco, a bar/restaurant at 653 Commercial Street, subject to conditions requiring two separate sound-limit measurements (one for upstairs and one for downstairs) and at least one front-door security guard when entertainment occurs.

Deputy Director Azavito introduced the application and said Central Station had approved the permit with no additional conditions. Owner Tom Glenwright described the business as a small bar-restaurant open about a year with an upstairs capacity around 93 and a planned downstairs build-out of about 49. Glenwright told commissioners the downstairs space is intended for quieter, intimate programming — comedy, trivia, acoustic performances — not large DJ or dance shows.

Commissioners pressed about security and neighborhood impacts. Several members recommended a security plan and asked that the application include a clear plan for door management and crowd control. Staff noted that answers to application security questions constitute the venue’s security plan, and commissioners recommended enhancing those prompts if necessary.

Commissioners also discussed whether the permit should be limited to the downstairs space or cover the entire premises. Several commissioners said permitting the whole space while conditioning different sound limits per floor would preserve flexibility and allow separate sound tests. The motion to approve, including two separate sound-limit readings and at least one security guard at the front door for entertainment, passed on a roll-call vote: Perez Aye; Thomas Aye; Vice President Kamino Aye; President Blayman Aye; Commissioner Tan Aye; Commissioner Lee Aye.

President Blayman congratulated the applicant and asked him to follow up with deputy director staff to complete remaining steps.