Starbucks to Launch Evening Wine, Beer, and Tapas Programs in SF

Devotees of all things Starbucks Coffee are likely already aware that the caffeinated mega-chain has recently been rolling out a new program called Starbucks Evenings, in which certain Starbucks outposts stay open later to serve a small selection of wine, beer, and appetizers like truffle mac and cheese, parmesan-crusted chicken skewers, and grilled vegetables with lemon aioli. (Here's the menu for the L.A. area, to give you an idea.) The concept has already launched in Starbucks' hometown, Seattle, as well as in L.A. and Chicago, and now it's apparently headed to SF.

As Hoodline reports, at least two Starbucks locations have already been targeted for the new offering: 9th and Irving in the Inner Sunset (which just got a major interior revamp), and Beach and Hyde in Fisherman's Wharf. According to the ABC's database, beer and wine licenses are also pending for Starbucks locations in Emeryville, Livermore, Millbrae, Napa, Petaluma, Pleasanton, San Mateo, and Santa Rosa, and more could potentially be on the way.

Unsurprisingly, some of the Inner Sunset's neighboring bars are less than thrilled about Starbucks getting into the alcohol game. "I think it's a slippery slope," Blackthorn Tavern owner and Inner Sunset Merchants Association president David Zimmerman told Hoodline. "Starbucks owns a lot of locations, and if they start this trend, it could be troubling to have so many beer-and-wine operations pop up." Zimmerman expressed concern with baristas' ability to deal with overserved customers, while Little Shamrock owner Saaed Ghazi thinks the chain "should stick to coffee." With potential opposition from area businesses in SF's notoriously chain-unfriendly political climate, it remains to be seen whether or not Starbucks will be able to make its bones in the booze business.