Commission approves Trader Joe’s/CVS retenanting at 1401 California Street; commission urges supervisors to weigh CVS liquor license

The San Francisco Planning Commission approved a retenanting and storefront renovation for 1401 California Street, allowing a combined Trader Joe’s and CVS project to move forward while simultaneously adopting a recommendation for the Board of Supervisors regarding a CVS liquor-license application.

Rick Crawford of planning staff described the proposal to split an existing roughly 30,000‑square‑foot grocery into about 14,600 square feet for Trader Joe’s and 11,000 square feet for CVS, with roughly 4,500 square feet of common circulation space and a net increase in up to seven parking spaces. The applicant said the retenanting would create an estimated 100–150 jobs, add bike parking (18 spaces) and seven street trees while reducing the previous operation’s alcohol-selling hours.

Neighborhood groups and residents spoke at length. Opponents, including Middle Polk and Lower Polk neighborhood representatives, objected to adding a chain pharmacy and a second off‑sale liquor outlet in an area they say already has an overconcentration of liquor retailers. Speakers cited outreach concerns and urged that any new alcohol sales be limited. Supporters and many nearby residents said the neighborhood urgently needs a grocery store and that the combined Trader Joe’s/CVS solution restores essential retail after the loss of CaliFoods.

CVS and project counsel said CVS intends to acquire an existing off‑sale license (not a new license) and would seek only a beer-and‑wine permit; they proposed limiting alcohol‑sale hours (applicants recommended 8 a.m.–10 p.m.). Deputy City Attorney Susan Cleveland Knowles advised the commission that state ABC process and local zoning practice limit the Planning Commission’s ability to unilaterally impose enforceable conditions on ABC licensing where alcohol is principally permitted by zoning; commissioners may, however, send a formal recommendation to the Board of Supervisors and to the ABC.

Faced with neighborhood concern and legal limits on enforceable conditions, the commission approved the project as proposed but adopted a motion urging the Board of Supervisors to request that ABC not grant a liquor license to CVS — or, if ABC grants a license, to restrict hours of sale. The motion passed 5–2.

The commission’s action allows Tenant Improvements and permitting to proceed; liquor licensing remains a separate state process for the ABC and a local recommendation channel through the Board of Supervisors.