SF committee forwards two liquor-license transfers as part of neighborhood retail reopenings

The Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee voted unanimously May 28 to forward two proposed transfers of Type 21 off-sale general liquor licenses to the full Board of Supervisors, sending the items with a positive recommendation.

Officer Samuelson of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Unit told the committee that Eastcut Traders’ application for a Type 21 license at 301 Howard produced zero letters of protest or support but is located in a high-crime, high-saturation census tract; the ALU recommended approval with a condition that the petitioner actively monitor the area under their control to prevent loitering, a condition the applicant had agreed to on April 1, 2020. Applicant representative Mr. Mana described Soma Wines & Spirits as operating in Soma since February 2006 and said the proposed location is the chain’s third store.

On the Safeway/Adronico’s request for a liquor-license transfer for the site listed at 3750 Second Ave (alternative address 3132 Clement), Officer Samuelson reported one letter of protest, no letters of support, and that the location sits in a low-crime plot but within a high-saturation census tract. ALU likewise recommended approval with a loitering-monitoring condition the applicant accepted on April 24, 2020. Justin Zucker, representing Safeway/Adronico’s, told the committee the alcohol-sales addition is meant to help the grocery’s long-term viability and provide neighborhood convenience.

There were no callers for public comment on either item. Supervisor Rafael Mandelman moved both items forward with a clerk-prepared resolution finding that the licenses would serve the public convenience and necessity; the committee took a roll-call vote and recorded three ayes for each motion. The committee directed the clerk to prepare the formal resolutions for Board consideration.

The full Board will consider the committee’s resolutions on the June 9, 2020 agenda unless otherwise noted.