Entertainment Commission approves Swank Cocktail Club LLP with sound and contact conditions

The San Francisco Entertainment Commission on June 16 voted to approve a limited live performance (LLP) permit for Swank Cocktail Club, 488 Presidio, with conditions recommended by the police.

Alex Perry, food-and-beverage manager at Swank, said the venue intends to run monthly acoustic “unplugged” nights and keep performances to a 10 p.m. cutoff. “With the permit, it only allows us to go to 10PM,” Perry said. He told commissioners he has limited outdoor speaker use, has communicated by letter with nearby residents and will provide a direct contact number for on‑call response during events.

Neighbor Marie McNulty told the commission that sliding glass doors and speaker use have allowed music and vibration to reach residences across the street and requested a reliable phone contact so neighbors can call when sound is disruptive. “Inside our homes, we can hear feel the vibrations of the music,” McNulty said. Police recommended approval with conditions that include following the Entertainment Commission Good Neighbor Policy, strictly enforcing the San Francisco Fire Department occupancy limit (49 people) and notifying businesses and residents within a one‑block radius.

Commissioners asked the applicant to keep the patio door closed during performances, consider sound curtains and post signage instructing patrons not to open the door. The motion to approve with police conditions passed unanimously.

The permit approval requires the permit holder to follow police and commission conditions; failure to comply can trigger follow‑up by staff and possible review of the permit.