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Entertainment Commission approves three venue permits, including a pinball arcade and two live-performance sites
Summary
The commission approved permits for Free Gold Watch (pinball arcade), the Burritt Room (limited live performance) and Piano Fight (theater complex). All three motions passed with recorded ayes; Piano Fight was approved with modified police conditions requiring recorded surveillance to be produced only with a valid search warrant.
The Entertainment Commission voted to approve three venue permit applications after public testimony and police vetting.
Free Gold Watch (1767 Waller). Applicant Matthew Henry described a 2,500-square-foot retail/screen-printing space now operating 29 pinball machines and a regular pinball league. Park Station offered no opposition and multiple members of the pinball community testified in support. Commissioner Joseph moved to approve and the motion passed with recorded ayes from Commissioners Hyde, Joseph, Lee, Campagnoli and President Tan.
Burritt Room (417 Stockton). Applicant Rita sought a limited live-performance permit for small acoustic duos and trios several nights per week in a historic hotel space. Central Station (Officer Matthias) recommended approval with no additional conditions. The commission voted to approve.
Piano Fight (144 Taylor). Applicants Rob Reddy and partners outlined plans for a multi-room theater, restaurant and cabaret in the Tenderloin. Tenderloin Station recommended conditions (good-neighbor policy, no audible noise outside, surveillance and other measures). Commissioners approved the permit but amended the police conditions during the meeting: they struck condition 4 (loitering language) and modified condition 5 so that electronic recordings would be retained for 30 days and made available to police only with a valid search warrant (removing language that would provide recordings "upon request"). The motion to approve with those edits passed unanimously.
Why it matters: the approvals reflect the commission's role in licensing entertainment uses and balancing neighborhood concerns, police conditions and community access to cultural spaces. The Free Gold Watch approval highlights support for a niche recreational use; Piano Fight's conditions illustrate the commission's negotiation with police about privacy and enforcement access.
Votes at a glance: Each motion passed with ayes recorded from Commissioners Hyde, Joseph, Lee, Campagnoli and President Tan (unanimous recorded votes for the items considered).
