San Francisco authorities have shut down or taken legal action against at least nine illegal drug and gambling dens over the past 18 months. The locations operated behind convenience store fronts and were all based in the Tenderloin District, an area long associated with homelessness and criminal activity.
stores also violated the Nighttime Safety Ordinance
Alongside illegal gambling, law enforcement uncovered drug sales, stolen goods trafficking, and firearm possession at the properties. The stores also violated the Nighttime Safety Ordinance, which came into effect in July 2024. The ordinance requires convenience stores in the downtown district to close between midnight and 5am to deter criminal activity in high-traffic drug market areas.
Speaking on the shutdowns, City Attorney David Chiu said the stores were “magnets for drug activity.” He added that the ordinance helped authorities identify and take action against problematic convenience stores.
The official announcement from the City Attorney’s Office provided further details on the closures. Law enforcement seized 44 illegal gambling machines, $44,049 in cash, 17 stolen iPhones, and multiple types of drugs.
Legal action has resulted in several evictions from the affected premises. San Francisco continues to face one of the most severe homelessness crises in the US; a 2024 Point-in-Time Count identified 8,323 people experiencing homelessness in the city.
