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Commission approves several venue permits, continues one amid neighborhood concerns
Summary
The commission approved two consent-permit items and granted a Place of Entertainment permit for Devil's Acre (156 Columbus) without conditions, and continued a Grama Area permit to June 2 after neighbors raised concerns about late-night events and temporary permits.
The San Francisco Entertainment Commission approved multiple venue permits on Cinco de Mayo and continued one pending application after neighborhood opposition.
On the consent agenda the commission approved a billiard permit for Grandma's Saloon (Taraval) and a limited live-performance permit for Lost Weekend Video/CineCave (Valencia). Deputy Director Blackstone said both items had no opposition from neighborhood stations or community groups. Commissioners voted to approve the consent agenda by roll call.
The commission then considered a Place of Entertainment permit for Devil's Acre (156 Columbus). Applicant Brian Sheehy described outreach to the San Francisco Police Department, Supervisor Chu's office and neighborhood associations; he said the venue is 2,000 square feet with a capacity of 135, intends primarily jazz programming and does not plan to use DJs as part of its business model. Sheehy said security staffing includes two on-site guards and an additional roaming manager. After public comment supporting the revival of a historic jazz venue, the commission voted to approve the Devil's Acre Place of Entertainment permit without conditions.
A second Place of Entertainment item for Grama Area was continued at the applicant's request to June 2 because of construction. Several neighbors and a nearby resident, Marty Grossman, urged the commission not to grant a temporary permit for Memorial Day weekend and asked for a midnight closing time, saying prior events ran late and that alcohol had been sold past permitted hours. The commission voted to continue the item to the June 2 meeting.
Earlier in the meeting sound inspector Sean Burke described enforcement activity, including an administrative citation and repeated good-neighbor-policy violations at Club Malibu; he said staff is awaiting the venue's response on whether it will appeal the citation before recommending next steps.
These votes do not alter previously issued permits; they approve new venue permissions and set a continuation date for Grama Area to allow the community and applicant to resolve outstanding concerns.
