SF Would Shut Down Indoor Dining Again if the Color Tiers Were Still in Play

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• If California were still operating under the color-coded reopening plan that ended on June 15, at least three Bay Area counties — including San Francisco — would have to shut down indoor dining based on their current rates of COVID-19. The jarring realization comes via an analysis by Bay Area News Group of data released on Sunday, which found that under the state’s original tier definitions, 29 counties, including San Francisco, Alameda, and Contra Costa, would now would be in the most restrictive purple tier signaling “widespread” risk — and under which all indoor dining and drinking, and bars without food were required to close down completely. Like the rest of the country, California has seen a rapid surge of COVID-19 cases in recent weeks, prompting an increasing number of Bay Area counties to issue recommendations for mask-wearing at indoor public places, regardless of vaccination status. [Mercury News]

• An alliance of more than 500 San Francisco bars is considering a major move to require proof of vaccination for entry, reports SFGate. Ben Bleiman, the head of the San Francisco Bar Owner Alliance, said Tuesday the group may soon release a statement recommending bars only allow vaccinated customers, though ultimately participation by bars would be voluntary (while it’s unclear how many would participate, Bleiman says he’s seen surge of bars voicing their support in just the last 24 hours). Bleiman says the move, which would include signage that says ‘you must be vaccinated to enter,’ has a two-fold purpose: to get out in front of further spread and to ensure people feel safe going to bars, something Bleiman says their survival is based on. The alliance will make a decision next week at the earliest. [SFGate]
• The Small Business Recovery Act approved by the S.F. Board of Supervisors on Tuesday has left the city’s hospitality community wanting, after various measures intended for the industry were removed from the final version. Specifically, a stipulation guaranteeing a less-than 90-day review process for conditional use permits for bars and nightlife entertainment was dropped, though one Supervisor says the Board plans to address that and other parts dropped from the original bill with separate legislation in September. The ordinance does, however, “provide some protections for long-standing nighttime entertainment businesses, removes some permit requirements such as for one-time entertainment performances, and allows businesses to more easily occupy a vacant space formerly occupied by the same kind of business,” according to the San Francisco Business Times. It’s up for a second reading on July 27 before moving to the mayor’s desk for signoff. [SF Biz]
• A wine shop and restaurant that describes its would-be vibe as “soft disco drunken dinner party” is coming to Oakland, and there are a number of notable aspects promised in addition to a unique vibe. Called Daytrip, the restaurant is from chef Finn Stern and Stella Dennig, known for their pop-up Finn + Stella Cater, and will serve family-style, “fermentation-driven” small plates; carry wine exclusively from producers owned by women or people of color; and offer weekend pastry service, reports the SF Chronicle. The pair expects to open Daytrip at 4316 Telegraph Avenue in Temescal (the former Oakland home of Julie’s Tea Garden) in October 2021. [SF Chronicle]