Cannabis dispensary proposed for Fiddler's Green location

Cannabis dispensary proposed for Fiddler's Green locationGround floor bar at Fiddler's Green. | Photo: Fiddler's Green of SF/Yelp
Nathan Falstreau
Published on July 13, 2018

A cannabis dispensary has been proposed for a location occupied by a Fisherman's Wharf pub that burned in a fire this week, Hoodline has learned. 

The proposed dispensary application for 1333 Columbus Ave., currently the location of Fiddler's Green, comes from ownership group Columbus Equity LLC, which is also associated with North Beach Equity LLC, which aims to open a dispensary at 580 Green St. at the former Citibank building. 

Bill Dolan, a member of the ownership group who filed the applications, told Hoodline via telephone that plans are still in the early stages for both spaces.

"The Office of Cannabis hasn't responded to anybody," he said, referring to equity applicants who applied in May when the city agency began accepting new dispensary proposals.

Upper level bar at Fiddler's Green. | Photo: Fiddler's Green of SF/Yelp

Until the process moves forward, Dolan said details like whether or not dispensaries will allow consumption on site can't be discussed.

"I don’t want to say that we are going to do one thing and then it’s going to change," he said. "I need the Office of Cannabis to start turning the wheels and let us start answering these questions." 

All future proposals "will be highly vetted through the city and the community," Dolan said. "At the end of the day, it's what the community wants and what the city will allow."

"Our approach is about blending in and benefiting the community," he said. Recognizing that the required community outreach will be ongoing, "we are going to have to win over hearts and minds."

We reached out to the Office of Cannabis for comment but did not receive a response.

After this week's fire. | Photo: Albertino M./Hoodline Tipline

Early Tuesday morning, a fire at Fiddler's Green displaced nine people — four adults in an upstairs unit and five tourists who were staying in a short-term rental nearby. 

"We don't know the extent of the damage; it's hard for me to say what's going to happen," said Dolan. Although most new dispensaries seek to open in vacant commercial spaces, he said he couldn't comment on the building's current status or future plans.

"That's a better question for the owner of the building, the owner obviously has to authorize anyone who submits the application," he added. 

We reached out to several representatives for Fiddler's Green to inquire about their plans for the property, but have not heard back as of press time. 

Dolan said he hopes the Office of Cannabis will start issuing decisions in the coming weeks. "We've been waiting months, but we're getting closer to where we can share more meaningful information."