Committee recommends approval of Fig and Thistle liquor-license transfer

The Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee on Oct. 26 recommended that the full Board of Supervisors approve a person-to-person, premise-to-premise transfer of a Type 48 on-sale general public premises liquor license to 7682 LLC, doing business as Fig and Thistle, at 313 Ivy.

Lieutenant Steve Jonas of the San Francisco Police Department’s ABC Liaison Unit told the committee there were zero letters of protest and zero letters of support for the application, but that the location is in Plot 558 — characterized in the report as a high-crime area — and in Census Tract 162, a high-saturation area. Northern Station registered no opposition, and the ABC liaison recommended approval with conditions including active monitoring to prevent loitering and ensuring entertainment is not audible at nearby residences.

An applicant representative, speaking at the hearing, said the venue is "super small, about 500 square feet," has been in business for 10 years and plans to remain "very low key" as a wine bar. With no members of the public requesting to speak, Chair Supervisor Catherine Stephanie moved that the clerk prepare a resolution finding that the transfer would serve the public convenience or necessity and forward it to the full Board with a positive recommendation.

The committee voted to recommend approval: Guardio, Dorsey and Stephanie recorded 'aye' votes and the clerk noted no opposition.

The recommendation will be presented to the Board of Supervisors at its Nov. 7, 2023 meeting. The ABC liaison’s recommended conditions will accompany the file for the Board’s consideration.