Eagle Tavern Closure: Supervisors Send a Letter of 'Deep Concern' to SFPD

By Erin Sherbert Thu., Apr. 14 2011 at 5:01 PM

Always a good crowd at the Eagle

Supervisors Scott Wiener, Jane Kim, and David Campos sent SF Weekly a letter addressed to acting Police Chief Jeff Godown, instructing him to "closely scrutinize" any transfer of the liquor license to ensure that the Eagle Tavern remains as we know it today.

The Eagle Tavern recently celebrated its 30th year. It is one of San Francisco's oldest gay bars, and has long been a center of the city's queer community -- and it's set to close later this month.

"We are adamantly opposed to any sale that would result in the Eagle's destruction," the supes say in the April 14 letter.

According to the letter, the owners of the bar want to sell the establishment to a current employee who would keep the Eagle intact.

"Unfortunately, the landlord is attempting to force a sale to a new owner who, as we understand it, will dramatically change the bar so it is no longer the Eagle and probably no longer a gay bar," the supervisors write.

Wiener, Kim, and Campos pointed out that the license transfer might not come before the Board of Supervisors, and therefore "we request that SFPD closely scrutinize, consistent with applicable legal standards, any requested liquor license transfer relating to the Eagle to ensure that any such transfer will not harm the LGBT community by putting an end to the Eagle."

Kim, along with Wiener and Campos (both of whom are openly gay), are well aware of how important the Eagle Tavern is to the LGBT community.

"Its loss would be a huge blow," they write. "The Eagle has been a key part of the LGBT community on many levels and has raised millions of dollars over the years for LGBT and HIV service organizations."

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Tags:

David Campos, Jane Kim, LGBT community, liquor license, Scott Wiener, The Eagle Tavern

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The Kid

I think it's silly to say that it would be a space for everyone. How come when it's a gay bar it's exclusive but when it's a straight bar it's for everyone? I don't get it.

Guest

There are pictures of veiny dicks on the walls and men are having sex during the parties... Not for everyone.

Guest

All bars have their intended audience, just like a TV show, a clothing store or even a book. This bar has been a staple the GLBT community for longer than I've been alive.

It's not only a bar, it's an institution that helps and gives back to its community more so than any other bar in the bay area.

Guest

Where's the letter to he ABC that really has authority over the transfer of liquor licenses. Amateurs...

Pat

I wonder how Jane Kim will treat the new tenants of the space once it caters to EVERYONE in the neighborhood not just a narrow demographic that couldn't patronize the venue enough to keep it from selling...?

Porky

Hey it's time to drink kool aid instead of beer @

Guest

This is what our supervisors are working on right now???

jack

Yes. It may suprise you to know, Guest, that supervisors regularly work on issues that impact their constituents. That's their job. That's why I voted voted for my supervisor, Jane Kim, and I am thrilled she and other supervisors have managed to take steps to address this and numerous other issues in their brief time in office. Just because the Eagle is not important to Guest, it is much beloved business and institutions for thousands of San Franciscans, and has raised millions of dollars for organizations serving the lgbt community, HIV/AIDS and health services, and others. I extend my thanks to the supervisors for their work on the issue.

Porky

The issue is to many people are getting drink in those bars and after it closes it becomes a safety issue with the SFPD.

I would change the hours of the bar and stop serving before 1am and this should curb all of the fights and beatings that go on in that area though out the week and the weekends.

Oink @

Guest

Porky, The Eagle has not been a source of the fights you're talking about. Other than someone from a bar up the street being shot outside the Eagle, it is rare that the Eagle is the location of a police call.

On the other hand the BOS should not be interfering in what a property owner does with his property. A bar is a bar and if they want what ever happens to that location to stay gay, they should just keep patronizing the bar. Having legal interference is just another infringement on the rights of property owners.

Guest

Yes, it is. And it should be. It took them how long to write a letter? And they all have reps and interns and staff who probably drafted it. The Eagle has raised millions of dollars for the LGBT community.

Stop whining. Find a cause YOU care about and ask your supervisors to work on it. Internet whiners are the worst!

Guest

I can think of things worst than Internet whiners but do you see how many people are online whining about this bar now wanting to cater to EVERYONE?? It's a bar! Our supervisors have spent days on this issue to woo a demographic that has a high voter turnout and is not necessarily representative of the city's residents. They should be working on the underrepresented poor and the lack of jobs & housing available to them, and making sure people don't catch fire inside of adult bookstores. You know, important stuff.

Guest

Oh, don't go there with me. Wrong person. It will not be a bar catering to EVERYONE. A straight bar does not cater to everyone. Also, yes, I posted the earlier comment. Aside from my love for the Eagle, I also have and/or actively do volunteer in Hunter's Point, Potrero, Sheriff's dept., and used to work to find employment placement for formerly incarcerated youth. Oh, and my daily job, by nature, is public interest. So, again, don't go there with me. I have a strong feeling you don't do any of the above. Very strong.

Porky

They should also join www.chamge.org fror less drinking and start making a big difference in the LGBT community @

Oink

Patricio

Is this sentence missing a word or something?: "Wiener and Campos are openly gay, as well as Kim, are well aware of how important the Eagle Tavern is to the LGBT community."

Porky

The SFPD is looking at where most of the assults and fights happen at and everybody knows that the place where the most drinks are served is where the mess is most likely to go down @

Daveed

Do you have any credible evidence that there is a higher incidence of assaults or fights in or near the Eagle than at an average bar in that neighborhood? If so, please share, otherwise...