Committee recommends Tonic liquor-license transfer after widespread neighborhood support

The Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee recommended on Nov. 14 that the Board of Supervisors advance a premise-to-premise transfer of a Type 48 on‑sale general public premises liquor license for Angry Otter Inc., doing business as Tonic, at 895 Post Street.

Officer Patrick Mackey of the San Francisco Police Department’s Alcohol Liaison Unit told the committee that the Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) liaison unit had received 26 letters of protest and one letter of support at the time of the PCM report; he described the site as in Plot 542 (a high-crime area) and in Census Tract 122.01 (a high‑saturation area), and said the ALU recommended approval with three conditions: no audible noise at nearby residences; active monitoring of adjacent property to prevent loitering as shown on the ABC form; and prohibition on off‑premises sales. “Central Station has no opposition to this license,” Mackey said.

An applicant representative for Tonic described the relocation of their flagship bar from the corner of Union and Polk to Hyde and Post after lease increases at the old location and said planning authorization for the new site was handled over the counter. The speaker said the owners had conducted multiple community meetings, engaged directly with protestors, and submitted more than 50 letters of support from local residents and organizations, including letters from neighborhood organizers and Glide Church. The applicant noted two protestors lived within 100 feet and described outreach efforts to those residents.

Dozens of neighbors, business owners and civic leaders spoke in favor of the transfer during public comment. Supporters included Dave Falzon (who said he had helped create the city’s ABC liaison unit and had worked with the TONIC group), David Del Lobos (president of the Lower Polk Larkin Business Collaborative), Honey Mahogany (co-owner of The Stud and district manager for Compton’s Transgender Cultural District), Michael Nolte (executive director, Alliance for Better District 6), and several nearby business owners and employees. Speakers described prompt problem‑resolution by the owners on noise complaints, long histories of community engagement and charitable contributions, and said the bar has served as a community space.

Vice Chair Supervisor Ronan moved that the committee find the transfer meets the public convenience and necessity and recommend it proceed; the motion met clerk requirements and was approved without objection. The committee’s recommendation does not itself transfer the license; it forwards the matter to the Board of Supervisors for final action.

The committee record notes the ALU conditions the applicant signed on Aug. 14; the clerk introduced the site as 895 Post Street and the ALU report and applicant filings are part of the official file.