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Planning commission denies Tip Top Market's transfer of liquor license after heated neighborhood debate
Summary
After hours of public testimony from residents, community groups and business supporters, the planning commission voted 4-2 to deny a conditional use transfer that would have allowed Tip Top Market at 90 Turk Street to sell beer and wine. Commissioners cited overconcentration of off-sales and neighborhood impacts.
The San Francisco Planning Commission denied a request to transfer a liquor license to Tip Top Market at 90 Turk Street, voting 4-2 after an extended hearing where neighbors and advocates made competing claims about crime, grocery access and neighborhood safety.
Planning staff recommended denial, noting the site is within the North of Market Residential Special Use District and concluding the transfer would contribute to an overconcentration of off-sale alcohol retailers. Rick Crawford, staff, cited police incident counts near the site and said the project did not advance general-plan objectives.
Mark Rene, representing the sponsor, and owner Kareem Rentisi urged approval, saying the market provides fresh produce, meat and a deli counter not otherwise available nearby and that a limited beer-and-wine allowance would help the business remain viable. "This is the only real grocery store in the Tenderloin," Rene said, describing efforts to limit alcohol to the back of the store and to eliminate hard liquor, malt liquor and fortified wines.
Supporters from neighborhood business groups and customers said the store—s food offerings and investments have helped revive the block. Opponents, including the Central City SRO Collaborative and neighborhood nonprofits, said another outlet for beer and wine would worsen public-drinking, loitering and crime on a block already dense with alcohol retailers. "Denying Tip Top Market a license to sell beer and wine will not cure all problems, but it will make it easier for the city to help address them," said Paul Lentz of the tenant group.
Commissioners debated whether a conditional approval with strict conditions could address concerns. A motion to approve with conditions failed on a roll call. The commission then voted to disapprove the transfer, with four commissioners voting in the majority and two in the minority. The commission recorded the outcome as a denial of the transfer application.
The denial means the market will remain without the requested beer-and-wine sales at this location; the owner may pursue other legal avenues for business viability, including partnerships with city economic programs that were discussed in testimony.
