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Committee hears amendments to let neighborhood theaters serve alcohol; Clay Theatre singled out for exemption
Summary
An ordinance was presented to allow on-site alcohol sales in movie theaters as an incidental use; amendments were proposed to exempt the Clay Theatre in the Upper Fillmore NCD from seat-count and ABC-license restrictions and to broaden on-site consumption to non‑ticketed guests.
An ordinance to amend the Planning Code was presented to the committee to permit on-site beer, wine and liquor sales in movie theaters as a minor incidental use, revise the definition of bona fide eating places, and add a specific exemption in the Upper Fillmore Neighborhood Commercial District for the Clay Theatre.
Lorenzo Rosas (Supervisor Cheryl's office) said the measure contains three planning-commission recommended changes and one amendment reflecting community feedback, including removing a proposed fixed-seat threshold and an ABC license-type requirement that would have constrained Clay Theatre operations. Rosas described the Clay Theatre’s lobby configuration and community outreach; the office proposed a Clay-specific pilot to allow on-site consumption by non‑ticketed guests to support the theatre’s financial sustainability. Vice Chair Cheyenne Chen and other supervisors expressed support for theater preservation citywide while noting the Clay’s unique lobby layout as a rationale for the pilot approach. Rosas said the amendments had been circulated to supervisors and approved as to form by the City Attorney.
There was no public comment on this agenda item. The committee moved the item forward with amendments and continued the item to the Feb. 9 Land Use meeting for additional work on the amendments.
