This is true. He bought it, didn't build it from scratch, and he most certainly has concerns above and beyond what the average bar owner faces. Of course, the average bar owner in San Francisco seems to face quite a bit more trouble than a bar owner in many other places in the US, so YMMV.
Agreed,many of his concerns came from trying to convert it to an all-ages club. This is very difficult in most areas. He also got screwed by the ABC and is still fighting that fight.
SF can be tough on business owners, but his issue with the ABIC is actually a classic sort of SF vs. The Feds sort of issue. In that case SF mostly couldn't care less and generally actually gets pissed when the feds start crap like this. We see similar issues around marijuana busts. Generally SFPD doesn't give a shit about marijuana (in general the SF DA won't prosecute these cases and they if someone does get popped its a misdemeanor), but every so often an overzealous US Attorney comes in and makes an easy, and high profile bust.
It should make a potential bar owner ask himself how the police feel about the bars in the town though. It only takes one guy to be a pain in your ass.
