Entertainment Commission grants Lucky Horseshoe a conditional entertainment permit with limits and police conditions

The Entertainment Commission voted Dec. 13, 2011, to grant the Lucky Horseshoe (453 Cortland) a conditional place-of-entertainment permit under new ownership. The motion, as moved and read into the record, approved hours of entertainment (noon–12:30 a.m. Sunday–Wednesday; extended weekend hours Thursday–Saturday to 1:30 a.m., with weekend hours applying to holiday Mondays), required posting the good neighbor policy, notification to Ingleside Station when using outside promoters, and outside camera footage retention for 30 days.

Staff told the commission the application included police-recommended conditions, approximately 845 letters of support and about a dozen letters of opposition tied largely to the venue’s prior ownership. Eric Embry, speaking on behalf of owner Lisa Marie, described outreach to neighbors, hiring of security consistent with permit conditions, and a sound-attenuation plan that includes acoustic curtains, added absorptive material on walls and stage isolation. "We have conditions on our license that we follow to the letter," Embry said, describing steps the new operators have taken to change the venue's reputation.

Supporters from Bernal Heights and musicians—many of whom said the new owners had worked with neighbors and cleaned up prior problems—urged approval. Opponents who live adjacent to the bar said they remain concerned that late-night entertainment will bring noise and unruly patrons to nearby yards and streets; one neighbor explained longstanding efforts with SFPD and others to address nuisance activity. The commission discussed camera storage periods, indoor vs. outdoor cameras, and hours before moving the motion.

A roll-call vote was recorded in the transcript with Commissioners Perez, Joseph, Hyde and President Newell voting Aye; the motion passed. The permit was approved as a conditional use with the limited set of retained police conditions and the good neighbor policy required. Commissioners urged the applicants to reach out to immediate neighbors on Andover Street and to follow up with Ingleside Station as promised.

Why it matters: the vote allows a neighborhood bar to host live music under new ownership while placing conditions intended to address earlier nuisance complaints and to preserve residential quality of life.

Next steps: the permit holder must follow the posted conditions (calendar with the permit officer at Ingleside Station, notification when outside promoters are used, and 30-day retention for outside camera footage) and the commission retained the ability to take enforcement action should problems recur.