Mayor Lurie, Supervisors Announce Legislation to Support Neighborhoods, Small Businesses with Five New Entertainment Zones

SAN FRANCISCO – Mayor Daniel Lurie  announced new legislation to continue driving San Francisco’s economic recovery by supporting neighborhoods and local businesses by creating five new entertainment zones. Co-sponsored by District 3 Supervisor Danny Sauter, District 6 Supervisor Matt Dorsey, and District 9 Supervisor Jackie Fielder, and set to be introduced tomorrow, the legislation builds on the success of entertainment zones downtown and, most recently, in the vibrant Cole Valley commercial corridor and on Front Street.

“Our city’s recovery depends on neighborhoods, people, and bringing joy and life back to our streets—block by block. That’s what entertainment zones do, and that’s why we are excited to be creating five new ones,” said Mayor Lurie. “From Cole Valley to Front Street, we’ve seen what happens when we open up our streets: Foot traffic goes up, local businesses get a boost, and neighbors come out to connect. I want to thank Supervisor Dorsey, Supervisor Sauter, and Supervisor Jackie Fielder for co-sponsoring this legislation and all of our partners in these communities for working hand-in-hand with our administration to bring our city back.”

“Entertainment Zones are a proven approach to support small businesses and our art and nightlife communities,” said District 3 Supervisor Danny Sauter. “Today's introduction of key new Entertainment Zones means that more residents and tourists alike will see San Francisco at our best through active open spaces filled with joy, creativity, and community.”

“These new Entertainment Zones are about bringing joy, energy, and economic vitality back to our neighborhoods,” said District 6 Supervisor Matt Dorsey. “From the heart of downtown on Yerba Buena Lane to the nightlife corridor of Folsom Street in SoMa, we’re creating welcoming spaces that support small businesses, celebrate our culture, and bring people together.”

Mayor Lurie and the Board of Supervisors are taking major steps to support small businesses downtown and across the city. Most recently, Mayor Lurie and Supervisor Stephen Sherrill announced legislation to renew the First Year Program, which has helped thousands of small businesses open their doors by waiving fees in their first year. In February, Mayor Lurie launched PermitSF to reform and streamline the city’s permitting processes, cutting red tape for small businesses and housing development. He also partnered with State Senator Scott Wiener to introduce state legislation to create new, more affordable liquor licenses and bring new restaurants and bars to downtown San Francisco.

The new entertainment zones would be in the following locations:

• On Valencia Street, between 16th Street and 21st Street
• At Pier 39
• On Ellis Street, between Stockton Street and Powell Street
• On Folsom Street, between 7th Street and 8th Street
• On Yerba Buena Lane between Market Street and Mission Street and at Jessie Square

“Entertainment Zones are economic and social engines. In San Francisco and other cities, they have proven to bring people together and to increase sales for bars and restaurants,” said Scott Rowitz, executive director of the community benefit district Yerba Buena Partnership. “Yerba Buena Lane is ideally suited for this. It's lined with bars and restaurants, amid historic and contemporary buildings, and with easy access to transit and parking. A stronger, vibrant Yerba Buena that thrives around the clock will bring with it even more housing, jobs, arts, and culture.”

Thanks to the early success of San Francisco’s first entertainment zones, the Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD) has been working with communities throughout San Francisco that are interested in establishing entertainment zones. With the five announced today, there are currently 21 entertainment zones across San Francisco that have been adopted or are pending at the Board of Supervisors.

Since the launch of the state’s first entertainment zone on Front Street, four entertainment zone events — Oktoberfest on Front in September 2024, Nightmare on Front Street in October 2024, the Let’s Glow Block Party in December 2024, and St. Pat’s on Front last month, held in partnership with the community benefit district Downtown SF Partnership and OEWD — have drawn over 21,000 attendees. Participating businesses — Schroeder’s, Harrington’s Bar & Grill, and Royal Exchange — reported increases in sales between 700% and 1,500%.

“The emergence of entertainment zones is reshaping our city into a dynamic destination where lively street events are becoming a cornerstone. Building on the proven success of past gatherings, we're seeing a clear appetite for these communal experiences, which are energizing our community and providing vital support to our business sector,” said Sarah Dennis Phillips, executive director of OEWD.

SOURCE: https://www.sf.gov/news-mayor-lurie-supervisors-announce-legislation-to-support-neighborhoods-small-businesses-with-five-new-entertainment-zones