Marker for Application Reviews.Pub
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO LONDON N. BREED, MAYOR OFFICE OF SMALL BUSINESS REGINA DICK-ENDRIZZI, DIRECTOR Legacy Business Registry Staff Report HEARING DATE JULY 22, 2019 PUNCH LINE SAN FRANCISCO Application No.: LBR-2018-19-058 Business Name: Punch Line San Francisco Business Address: 444 Battery Street District: District 3 Applicant: Live Nation Worldwide, Inc., Owner/Operator Nomination Date: May 16, 2019 Nominated By: Supervisor Aaron Peskin Staff Contact: Richard Kurylo [email protected] BUSINESS DESCRIPTION Punch Line San Francisco is the longest-running comedy club in the city, established in 1978. The Punch Line was originally founded by Jonathan and Anne Fox along with Jeffrey and Patricia Pollack. The Foxes are the founders of the San Francisco International Comedy Competition. The venue was sold to Bill Graham in 1980. Bill Graham was a German-American impresario and rock concert promoter who made famous The Fillmore and Winterland Arena and had a profound influence around the world. In 1997, SFX Entertainment purchased Bill Graham Presents, and then in 2000 Clear Channel Entertainment bought SFX. Clear Channel operated the venue until 2005 when it spun off into a new company name: Live Nation Worldwide, Inc. The venue has operated under the "Clubs & Theaters" division of Live Nation since then, called House of Blues Entertainment. The Punch Line quickly established itself as a premier comedy club for performers and audiences alike. The citywide comedy festival SF Sketchfest operates in partnership with the Punch Line for 3 weeks out of each year. The Punch Line’s weekly Sunday showcase is the longest-running comedy showcase in the entire city of San Francisco. The Punch Line has had comedy shows at least six nights a week for the past 40 years. Stars like Robin Williams, Dana Carvey, Ellen Degeneres, Wanda Sykes, Drew Carey, Dave Chappelle and Chris Rock all took the first steps of their show biz journeys on the Punch Line’s stage. Then there are Zach Galifianakis, Ali Wong, Amy Schumer, Nick Swardson, Hannibal Buress, Bill Burr, Mike Birbiglia, Marc Maron, John Mulaney, Margaret Cho and so many more who regularly played the Punch Line. Many still make guest appearances and perform surprise shows. The business is located on the east side of Battery Street between Washington and Clay streets in the Financial District neighborhood. CRITERION 1: Has the applicant operated in San Francisco for 30 or more years, with no break in San Francisco operations exceeding two years? 1 DR. CARLTON B. GOODLETT PLACE, ROOM 140, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA 94102-4681 (415) 554-6134 / www.sfosb.org / [email protected] CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO LONDON N. BREED, MAYOR OFFICE OF SMALL BUSINESS REGINA DICK-ENDRIZZI, DIRECTOR Yes, Punch Line San Francisco has operated in San Francisco for 30 or more years, with no break in San Francisco operations exceeding two years: 444 Battery Street from 1978 to Present (41 years) CRITERION 2: Has the applicant contributed to the neighborhood's history and/or the identity of a particular neighborhood or community? Yes, Punch Line San Francisco has contributed to the history and identity of San Francisco. The Historic Preservation Commission recommended the applicant as qualifying, noting the following ways the applicant contributed to the neighborhood's history and/or the identity of a particular neighborhood or community: • The business is associated with the art of stand-up comedy. • As a comedy performance venue, the business is associated with many famous comedians as well as Bill Graham, an early owner. • The property has Planning Department Historic Resource status codes of “B” (Historic Resource Present) because of the building’s age (constructed 1967). • The Punch Line has been featured in tons of Bay Area publications such as The Chronicle, The Examiner, SF Weekly, SF Bay Guardian and San Jose Mercury News. The Punch Line was listed as #3 in Vulture Magazine's "top 15 comedy clubs." The Punch Line can be seen in the "3 Still Standing" documentary, as well as “Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind,” the official HBO Documentary. Dozens of comedy albums have been recorded at the Punch Line, as well as a few comedy specials. CRITERION 3: Is the applicant committed to maintaining the physical features or traditions that define the business, including craft, culinary, or art forms? Yes Punch Line San Francisco is committed to maintaining the physical features and traditions that define the organization. HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION The Historic Preservation Commission recommends that Punch Line San Francisco qualifies for the Legacy Business Registry under Administrative Code Section 2A.242(b)(2) and recommends safeguarding of the below listed physical features and traditions. Physical Features or Traditions that Define the Business: • Stand-up comedy performance 6 nights per week. • The mural on the stage backdrop. • The neon sign of the comedy and tragedy masks. • Dan Dion’s photographs of comedians. • Brick interior walls. • Intimate scale of the space. CORE PHYSICAL FEATURE OR TRADITION THAT DEFINES THE BUSINESS Following is the core physical feature or tradition that defines the business that would be required for maintenance of the business on the Legacy Business Registry. • Comedy club. 1 DR. CARLTON B. GOODLETT PLACE, ROOM 140, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA 94102-4681 (415) 554-6134 / www.sfosb.org / [email protected] CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO LONDON N. BREED, MAYOR OFFICE OF SMALL BUSINESS REGINA DICK-ENDRIZZI, DIRECTOR STAFF RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that the San Francisco Small Business Commission include Punch Line San Francisco currently located at 444 Battery Street in the Legacy Business Registry as a Legacy Business under Administrative Code Section 2A.242. Richard Kurylo, Program Manager Legacy Business Program 1 DR. CARLTON B. GOODLETT PLACE, ROOM 140, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA 94102-4681 (415) 554-6134 / www.sfosb.org / [email protected] CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO LONDON N. BREED, MAYOR OFFICE OF SMALL BUSINESS REGINA DICK-ENDRIZZI, DIRECTOR Small Business Commission Draft Resolution HEARING DATE JULY 22, 2019 PUNCH LINE SAN FRANCISCO LEGACY BUSINESS REGISTRY RESOLUTION NO. _________________________ Application No.: LBR-2018-19-058 Business Name: Punch Line San Francisco Business Address: 444 Battery Street District: District 3 Applicant: Live Nation Worldwide, Inc., Owner/Operator Nomination Date: May 16, 2019 Nominated By: Supervisor Aaron Peskin Staff Contact: Richard Kurylo [email protected] ADOPTING FINDINGS APPROVING THE LEGACY BUSINESS REGISTRY APPLICATION FOR PUNCH LINE SAN FRANCISCO, CURRENTLY LOCATED AT 444 BATTERY STREET. WHEREAS, in accordance with Administrative Code Section 2A.242, the Office of Small Business maintains a registry of Legacy Businesses in San Francisco (the "Registry") to recognize that longstanding, community- serving businesses can be valuable cultural assets of the City and to be a tool for providing educational and promotional assistance to Legacy Businesses to encourage their continued viability and success; and WHEREAS, the subject business has operated in San Francisco for 30 or more years, with no break in San Francisco operations exceeding two years; or WHEREAS, the subject business has operated in San Francisco for more than 20 years but less than 30 years, has had no break in San Francisco operations exceeding two years, has significantly contributed to the history or identity of a particular neighborhood or community and, if not included in the Registry, faces a significant risk of displacement; and WHEREAS, the subject business has contributed to the neighborhood's history and identity; and WHEREAS, the subject business is committed to maintaining the physical features and traditions that define the business; and WHEREAS, at a duly noticed public hearing held on July 22, 2019, the San Francisco Small Business Commission reviewed documents and correspondence, and heard oral testimony on the Legacy Business Registry application; therefore 1 DR. CARLTON B. GOODLETT PLACE, ROOM 110, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA 94102-4681 (415) 554-6134 / www.sfosb.org / [email protected] CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO LONDON N. BREED, MAYOR OFFICE OF SMALL BUSINESS REGINA DICK-ENDRIZZI, DIRECTOR BE IT RESOLVED that the Small Business Commission hereby includes Punch Line San Francisco in the Legacy Business Registry as a Legacy Business under Administrative Code Section 2A.242. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Small Business Commission recommends safeguarding the below listed physical features and traditions at Punch Line San Francisco: Physical Features or Traditions that Define the Business: • Stand-up comedy performance 6 nights per week. • The mural on the stage backdrop. • The neon sign of the comedy and tragedy masks. • Dan Dion’s photographs of comedians. • Brick interior walls. • Intimate scale of the space. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Small Business Commission requires maintenance of the below listed core physical feature or tradition to maintain Punch Line San Francisco on the Legacy Business Registry: • Comedy club. ______________________________________________________________________________________ I hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was ADOPTED by the Small Business Commission on July 22, 2019. _________________________ Regina Dick-Endrizzi Director RESOLUTION NO. _________________________ Ayes – Nays – Abstained – Absent – 1 DR. CARLTON