San Francisco Sun

San Francisco, CA – The establishment of a new entertainment zone at Thrive City was announced by Mayor London N. Breed in collaboration with the Golden State Warriors and the Office of Economic Workforce and Development (OEWD). This initiative is part of Senate Bill 76, authored by State Senator Scott Wiener and co-sponsored by Supervisors Matt Dorsey and Rafael Mandelman. The Board of Supervisors approved this legislation in October.

Thrive City will mark the opening of the new zone with a Winter Wonderland Tree Lighting Ceremony on November 30. This event will feature San Francisco's tallest Christmas tree, a guest appearance by Warriors' legend Festus Ezeli, and a performance by Montell Jordan. Retailers within Thrive City will be allowed to sell alcoholic beverages to-go during the festivities.

Mayor Breed stated, "We have been laser focused on finding and implementing creative solutions that bring better opportunities for our businesses and a surge of new energy for residents and visitors across San Francisco." She emphasized the economic benefits experienced in other parts of the city due to similar initiatives.

In June, Front Street was designated as San Francisco's first entertainment zone under SB 76. These zones aim to support local bars and restaurants by allowing them to sell alcoholic beverages for outdoor consumption during special events.

Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 969 in September, which allows cities across California to adopt San Francisco's strategy starting January 1, 2025. Senator Wiener expressed his support: "San Francisco is at its best when we gather to celebrate our incredible community—and innovative laws like SB 76 and 969 make our traditional gatherings even more exciting."

District 6 Supervisor Matt Dorsey commented on the impact of these zones: “Thrive City’s new Entertainment Zone is a game-changer for San Francisco’s vibrant nightlife and local economy.”

Supervisor Rafael Mandelman also praised the initiative: "The Thrive City Entertainment Zone will build on this success...Mayor Breed and Senator Wiener deserve great praise for their work to make entertainment zones a reality in San Francisco."

Previous events at Front Street have shown significant economic boosts for participating businesses, according to OEWD Executive Director Sarah Dennis Phillips. Thrive City's retailers are expected to benefit similarly from upcoming events.

Warriors President Brandon Schneider remarked on the positive impact: “Entertainment Zones have demonstrated their ability to positively impact local businesses.”

Andy Chun from Sidecar Hospitality shared his excitement about participating: “Splash at Thrive City is excited to participate in the new Thrive City Entertainment Zone."

Thrive City offers diverse dining options, retail experiences, health events, and live entertainment. It was developed by the Golden State Warriors and Kaiser Permanente with a focus on community health.

For further details about Thrive City, visit thrivecity.com.