Entertainment commission approves Bar Fluxus place-of-entertainment permit after owners withdraw extended-hours request

The San Francisco Entertainment Commission approved a place-of-entertainment permit for Bar Fluxus, a proposed cocktail bar inside the Hotel des Arts at 447 Bush Street, after the owners withdrew a request for extended hours and committed to soundproofing and public-safety conditions.

Applicants told the commission they would withdraw their request for extended hours to give themselves time to establish the business and demonstrate compliance. "We are withdrawing the late extended hours. We want to prove ourselves to you and to the Police Department," owner Ludovic said, adding that the venue will likely seek extended hours after about a year if operations go smoothly.

The applicants described a multi-layer sound-control plan they said will cost more than $100,000, including construction described as "a box within a box" to contain amplified sound. "We are investing over $100,000 for stopping any sound out of the building," Ludovic told commissioners. They also described neighborhood outreach to downtown merchant groups and hotel stakeholders and said the bar would have a robust security plan.

Officer Steve Mathias of Central Station said police reviewed the business plan and welcomed the soundproofing and crowd-management proposals, including a plan to use an adjacent hotel lobby to manage lines and reduce sidewalk congestion. Mathias said Central Station recommended approval with specific conditions: an entrance camera with 14-day footage retention and responsible-service and security measures. "We're very happy about that," Mathias said.

Commissioners asked applicants detailed questions about the fire and assembly permits; applicants acknowledged that an earlier capacity figure had been listed as 49 but said the fire department allows 176 and that they will file the required assembly permit. The applicants also confirmed they have plans for tip-training and other measures to ensure responsible alcohol service.

A motion to approve the place-of-entertainment permit, conditioned on the good-neighbor policy and the Police Department recommendations, was made and seconded. The chair called the roll and the motion carried. The applicants agreed to return if they later seek extended hours.

The approval leaves in place the commission's standard conditions for new entertainment venues: compliance with any posted requirements from the Police and Fire Departments, adherence to the good-neighbor policy, and implementation of the security and noise controls proposed in the application. The commission recorded no public speakers opposing the application during the hearing.

The commission also corrected an earlier oversight and later recorded a formal vote on the consent calendar before adjourning.