Committee backs Luke’s Local liquor-license transfer for North Beach grocery

The Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee voted unanimously Thursday to recommend that the Board of Supervisors approve a transfer of a Type 21 off-sale general (beer, wine and distilled spirits) license to Luke’s Local at 580 Green Street in North Beach. Chair Marr moved that the clerk prepare a resolution finding the transfer would serve the public convenience and necessity; the committee recorded three ayes and sent the measure to the full board with a positive recommendation.

The San Francisco Police Department’s Alcoholic Beverage Control liaison unit told the committee there are 10 letters of protest on file and that the location sits in a high-saturation, high-crime plot. Central Station registered no opposition, and ALU recommended approval with a condition requiring the petitioner to actively monitor the area under their control to prevent loitering adjacent to the licensed premises.

Scott Stern, business controller for Luke’s Local, described the applicant as a local grocer and said alcohol accounts for a small share of sales at the chain’s other locations. “We sell 90% of what we sell is food product ... alcoholic beverage … makes up rather a small portion of our total sales, so less than 10%,” Stern said, adding that the store follows ABC rules and has systems to discourage on‑premise consumption and loitering.

There were no in‑chamber speakers and no telephonic public commenters on the item. Supervisor Stephanie spoke in support of the business, saying she has had “nothing but positive experiences” and encouraged approval. The committee’s recommendation will be packaged as a committee report for the full Board of Supervisors to consider.