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Planning Commission denies transfer of Grand Liquors license to Tip Top Market at 90 Turk Street
Summary
After hours of testimony from police, residents and community groups, the Planning Commission voted 6–1 to disapprove a conditional use transfer of an off‑sale liquor license from 67 Taylor Street to 90 Turk Street, citing overconcentration of liquor outlets and public‑safety concerns while noting the grocery benefit claimed by the applicant.
The San Francisco Planning Commission denied a request to transfer an off‑sale liquor license from Grand Liquors at 67 Taylor Street to a redeveloped Tip Top Market at 90 Turk Street, voting 6–1 on Sept. 10. Planning staff had recommended denial, citing the site’s location in the North of Market Residential Special Use District and a finding that the transfer would contribute to an overconcentration of liquor outlets that undermines neighborhood objectives.
The Tenderloin Police Station presented incident data and a map of local liquor licenses that framed much of the discussion. “There’s an oversaturation of liquor licenses already in the Tenderloin District,” Officer Mike Torres told commissioners, citing recent incident counts and saying the proposed transfer was in a census tract with 24 licenses, including 10 liquor stores. Captain Gary Jimenez of Tenderloin station said the department also opposed the transfer and told the commission that removing one license would help reduce violent incidents: “We are in a very desperate fight to end that violence, and one less liquor store will add a great deal towards that battle.”
Supporters of the transfer, including counsel Terrence Hallinan and business owner Kareem Rantisi, urged the commission to allow a move that they said would preserve a family business and create an ADA‑accessible grocery with fresh produce. “We’re trying to improve the neighborhood,” Hallinan said, noting concessions the applicant proposed to limit certain alcohol products and reduce liquor shelf space to about 9 percent. Multiple community groups, faith leaders and neighborhood organizations offered split testimony: some urged denial on public‑health and safety grounds; others and several neighborhood nonprofits supported the grocery component while opposing added alcohol sales.
Commissioners debated the policy tradeoffs at length. Several members said retaining family‑run businesses mattered, but the house of evidence about concentrated alcohol sales and neighborhood harms carried weight. Commissioner Lage framed the decision around neighborhood needs and the concentration of liquor outlets; other commissioners discussed possible conditions that might allow a grocery to proceed without liquor, including limits on product types, hours, security, and a higher grocery‑to‑liquor sales threshold.
After deliberation, the commission concluded that the transfer was neither necessary nor desirable for this location and formally disapproved the conditional use authorization. The denial was recorded 6–1, with Commissioner Antonini the lone vote in favor. The decision keeps the applicant’s existing license at 67 Taylor Street; staff and community groups indicated they would continue to discuss alternative proposals to deliver fresh produce and neighborhood services without expanding off‑sale alcohol availability.
