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Entertainment Commission approves extended-hours permits for late-night eateries with security conditions
Summary
The San Francisco Entertainment Commission approved extended-hours permits for multiple small pizza and cafe operators on Broadway and Geary, imposing police-recommended security requirements (certified guards during late-night privileges) while striking a proposed blanket ban on admitting intoxicated patrons; commissioners also required additional community outreach and tailored days for security coverage.
San Francisco — The Entertainment Commission on Wednesday approved extended-hours premises permits for several late-night eateries — including Paris Pizza (448 Broadway), Pizza Royale (464 Broadway), Milan Pizza (606 Geary) and J2 Cafe (582 Sutter) — while attaching police-recommended conditions aimed at reducing late-night disturbances.
The commission approved the permits after multi-hour hearings in which Central Station officer Steve Mathias outlined a pattern of assaults, robberies and disorder in the Broadway corridor that the police say is linked to late-night clustering. "When we talk about the climate up on Broadway, it's not always just the clubs," Mathias said, and urged that venues operating under 10-70 extended-hours privileges take specific steps — security guards with state guard cards, lighting and cameras — to minimize problems.
Applicants described business needs driven by late-night customers and workers leaving hospitality jobs. Mohammed Harrizi, who said he has run Paris Pizza for five years, told commissioners he stands at the door himself now and would comply with conditions to keep the block safe. "I've been doing my best ... to keep our establishment safe," Harrizi said.
Commissioners debated a police recommendation that extended-hours businesses refuse service to intoxicated patrons. Several commissioners and community advocates said outright bans could create sidewalk confrontations and reduce harm-reduction opportunities; one commissioner proposed limiting the restriction to "severely intoxicated" patrons. Ultimately the commission struck the blanket prohibition on admitting intoxicated persons (police condition #3) and instead required certified, guard-carded security during the exercise of 10-70 privileges. For Broadway pizza applicants, security was limited to the late-night days with highest risk (Thursday–Saturday for Paris Pizza as amended); other venues received tailored days (e.g., Friday–Saturday for Milan Pizza).
Commissioners also pressed applicants on community outreach. Several applicants presented signatures and meeting notes; Alliance for Better District 6 and local business groups testified they had seen petitions and outreach materials supporting some applicants. Commissioners and police asked applicants to follow through with neighborhood meetings and provide written follow-up to enforcement staff.
Votes on individual permits were taken on the record. The motions to approve the individual applications with the stated police conditions (and the specific local amendments) passed on roll-call with recorded "aye" votes from Commissioners Tan, Lee, Hyde, Perez, Acres and Vice President Joseph on the items taken that night.
The commission made a point of distinguishing operational requirements from law-enforcement authority. Staff clarified that the standard Good Neighbor Policy remains enforceable and that violations of conditions can lead to suspension of the 10-70 privilege.
The commission said it would review compliance as incidents are reported and asked applicants to return if enforcement or outreach proved insufficient. Several commissioners urged applicants to err on the side of hiring trained, outside security where neighborhood complexity is high.
