Two San Francisco supervisors want zoning laws to limit new convenience stores from opening in the Tenderloin and South of Market neighborhoods, part of an effort to curb illegal activity that proliferates outside the shops.
The legislation, led by Supervisor Matt Dorsey, who oversees SoMa, would not affect existing convenience stores, but would eliminate the automatic approval of any new ones. New applicants would be scrutinized based on the concentration of similar stores in the vicinity and whether they serve a “demonstrated neighborhood need” or contribute to a “balanced mix” of commercial uses.
Supervisors unanimously approved the proposal at the Land Use and Transportation Committee meeting today. It will go before the full board for approval.
Corner stores take up much of the ground-floor retail space in these areas, especially on the Sixth Street corridor and in the Tenderloin. According to the proposed legislation, over 75 such stores exist now.
It is not uncommon to see stores shutter and reopen under new names and management within days in the Tenderloin. Many have been forced to shut by the city attorney’s office for allegedly hosting illegal gambling machines or selling drugs or paraphernalia.
The proposed legislation is only the latest in a series of measures to restrict bad-actor stores: In 2024, the city imposed a curfew on many Tenderloin shops, and this year extended and expanded the curfew to SoMa.
Also in 2024, the Board of Supervisors approved legislation restricting new smoke shops from opening in the Tenderloin and Lower Polk areas. Dean Preston was then the supervisor of District 5.
“These retail food and tobacco establishments in effect facilitate the nighttime drug market by providing a lighted gathering point for drug users and dealers,” the proposed legislation reads, and enable people to “take cover indoors to avoid police patrols.”
Kate Robinson, director of the Tenderloin Community Benefit District, said at today’s meeting that the neighborhood has regressed in recent years as certain bad-actor stores have become “a part of the drug trade.”
“We know exactly who we’re talking about when we talk about these stores,” said Robinson. “They’re not supportive contributors to the neighborhood. They sell chips and sodas and meth pipes and run illegal gambling rings.”
District 5 Supervisor Bilal Mahmood, who oversees the Tenderloin District, said he wants to incentivize different types of stores in the Tenderloin. The neighborhood has no pharmacy or full-service grocery store, for example.
The Office of Economic & Workforce Development last year offered $100,000 grants to encourage the opening of a full-service grocery store or pharmacy, but told Mission Local they received no applicants.
“This is a neighborhood of 3,500 children, and yet … we don’t have a toy store. We don’t even have an ice cream store,” Mahmood said.
The zoning restriction would be in effect for 18 months if approved. During that time, the city would conduct a planning study on possible permanent regulations.
More racist, anti-poor nonsense from Dorsey and Mahmood with the war on drugs as an excuse. They’ll try anything except for what’s proven to work to address addiction: harm reduction, a supportive environment (affordable housing!), and voluntary treatment available on demand the moment someone requests it.
“The Office of Economic & Workforce Development last year offered $100,000 grants to encourage the opening of a full-service grocery store or pharmacy, but told Mission Local they received no applicants.”
No kidding. Anyone with common sense knows that they’ll get robbed blind if they go in there. They call these places food deserts for a reason. Likewise with this Ice-cream shop and toy-store talk. Pure Woke foolishness…