S.F. movie theater to serve beer
By William Love Correspondent |
PUBLISHED: April 6, 2006 at 3:34 a.m. | UPDATED: August 14, 2016 at 10:02 p.m.
SAN FRANCISCO — Oakland may not have cable cars, but it does have something San Francisco does not: a movie theater that serves beer. At least, until now.
On Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors approved an ordinance which allows for the establishment of San Francisco's first movie theater to serve alcohol.
The Red Vic, a worker-owned and -operated single-screen movie theater in the Haight Ashbury district, was the focus of the bill. The ordinance overrides a moratorium on new liquor licenses.
Oakland's Parkway Theater, California's first speakeasy movie house, doesn't wish stale popcorn on the competition.
"We wish the Red Vic luck," said Catherine Fisch, president of the Parkway Theater. "The more we can save the small neighborhood theaters, the better off we all are."
The ordinance represents a victory for independently owned movie theaters struggling to stay in business.
Over the last 20 years in San Francisco, more than 35 single-screen movie theaters have gone out of business.
"Financially, we are hanging on by our fingernails," said Martha Beck, one of the four owners of the Red Vic. "We had to come up with an idea to bring in more money."
The Red Vic, which is located at 1727 Haight St., was started by a group of movie enthusiasts in 1980 and later moved to its current location. When it opened, the Red Vic introduced its now legendary couches to offer patrons a "funky, yet comfy place to watch their favorite films," a blurb on the theaters' Web site read.
The theater is open every day and shows first-run and independent films. It seats about 145, including traditional theater seats and couches (so it could fit another five if you wanted to get cozy). It serves organic popcorn with real butter, and sells treats made by a local bakery — sounds very East Bay.
Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, who represents the district the Red Vic resides in and author of the ordinance, said it is a "wise gesture," and a "positive step for independent theaters."
In a recommendation letter to the board, the city's Planning Commission said, "This particular theater operation is arguably iconic of the culture and history unique to the Haight Ashbury neighborhood."
Beck says she hopes the theater will be selling brews by year's end, although she has yet to decide what beer goes best with popcorn. "That's the fun part," said Beck.
For more information, visit the Red Vic's Web site at http://www.redvicmoviehouse.com or call 415-668-3994.
William Love Correspondent