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Planning commission approves Giordano Brothers on Union Street but excludes rear patio
Summary
After hours of public testimony, the Planning Commission granted a conditional-use permit for Giordano Brothers to open at 1784 Union Street but unanimously removed approval for an outdoor rear patio and live amplified music, citing proximity to abutting residences and potential noise impacts.
The San Francisco Planning Commission on Feb. 25 approved a conditional-use permit allowing Giordano Brothers to convert a long-vacant storefront at 1784 Union Street into a full-service restaurant, but the commission unanimously denied the applicant—s request to use the rear yard as outdoor seating with amplified music.
Jeff Jordan, founding partner of Giordano Brothers, told the commission the North Beach sandwich shop would bring jobs, local spending and a family-run operation to Union Street and that the business has operated for more than five years without enforcement complaints at its existing location. "We've been a well respected asset in North Beach, and we intend to be a good neighbor on Union Street," Jordan said.
More than 50 members of the public spoke at the hearing. Supporters argued the restaurant would bring life and customers to a business corridor with high vacancy and offered petitions and letters of support from merchants and residents. Several supporters emphasized job creation and the owners' record in North Beach.
Opponents living adjacent to the site argued the rear patio and proposed entertainment would create a late-night nuisance and directly affect bedrooms and private backyards for multiple neighboring units. "Our backyard is our refuge from the street," said resident Skye Zember, asking who would control noise, turnover and doors opening into the yard. Multiple neighbors described narrow setbacks and a canyon effect that would amplify sound.
Commissioners debated mitigation and hours but ultimately concluded the location of the proposed patio was incompatible with surrounding residences. Commissioner Lage moved to approve the change of use but exclude patio use; the motion passed by roll call with unanimous support (Antonini, Lee, Moore, Seguin, Olague and Miguel voting aye). The motion prohibits the rear outdoor service and requires the operator to comply with indoor conditions required by the department's recommended conditions of approval.
The commission recorded that the indoor full-service restaurant use itself met planning code standards for the Union Street Neighborhood Commercial District; the denial of the patio reflects concerns about the specific rear-yard context and residence adjacency. The commission noted the operator could return with a revised design or a future request if community conditions and building modifications allowed.
