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Commission loosens some restrictions for Neck of the Woods but keeps higher weekend security requirement
Summary
After months of oversight and recent incidents, the commission granted Neck of the Woods an hour‑and‑a‑half extended entertainment time (to 1:45 a.m.) and adjusted its security ratio: 1:75 Sunday–Wednesday and a stricter ratio on busy nights (modified to roughly 1:50) for Thursday–Saturday, with a plan to revisit the arrangement.
The Entertainment Commission voted to amend permit conditions for Neck of the Woods (formerly the Rocket Room) at 406 Clement Street, allowing live entertainment to run until 1:45 a.m. and modifying required security levels.
Owner Tim Choi requested relief from an earlier, more restrictive condition, arguing the security staffing requirement and an earlier lights‑out policy were financially onerous. Richmond Station Officer Tobias Moore said relations with the operator had substantially improved and recommended a phased approach: 1:75 security Sunday–Wednesday, but keeping the stricter 1:40 (later adjusted in discussion) on Thursday–Saturday when incidents historically cluster. Commissioners compromised to allow entertainment to 1:45 with a mixed security ratio (1:75 Sunday–Wednesday and 1:50 Thursday–Saturday as a practical adjustment), and asked staff and police to revisit the condition in six months based on incident data.
Police testimony recounted recent incidents (assaults and an arrest connected to acts promoted at the venue) that supported keeping stricter staffing on busy weekend nights. The commission emphasized the change was a carefully monitored experiment: staff and the police will track incidents and may restore stricter conditions if problems recur.
