More SF Movie Theaters Can Sell Beer and Wine After Supervisors Relax the Rules

"The way things stand now, the SF Planning Code holds theaters to a revenue test that demands a venue make a minimum of its gross sales on food. That holds movie theaters to the same standard as restaurants, and unrealistic threshold for theaters that hop to sell beer and wine. Regardless how much we charge for extra butter, no amount of popcorn is going to make 51% of their revenue, Sherrill said."

"San Francisco's answer to creating economic recovery these last few years seems to be to jst add more alcohol sales to every event and get-together. And you know what? It keeps on working! So District 2 Supervisor Stephen Sherrill followed suit this past November, and proposed relaxing the rules so that more SF movie theaters could sell beer and wine at their concession stands."

San Francisco relaxed rules to allow more movie theaters to sell beer and wine at concession stands to boost revenues and sustainability. District 2 Supervisor Stephen Sherrill proposed the rule change in November, and the Board of Supervisors passed it unanimously. Movie theaters have faced competition from streaming, pandemic losses, and shifting habits, with small single-screen historic theaters hit hardest. The current Planning Code requires venues to make a minimum share of gross sales on food, holding theaters to the same standard as restaurants and creating an unrealistic threshold for alcohol sales. The legislation includes a provision allowing certain Upper Fillmore theaters to sell wine or beer without non-residential use size limits, singling out the Clay Theater, which closed before the pandemic.

Read at sfist.com