This closure marks the latest in a series of setbacks for the establishment, especially as it approaches its busiest time of year - the winter holiday season. The venue, renowned for its "Miracle on 30th Street" festive cocktail menu, has previously drawn large crowds for its holiday ambiance, even operating with a packed house on Christmas Day in years past.
In a lengthy statement on Instagram (which we at SanDiegoVille have been blocked from viewing since our last reporting on a similar suspension), the bar shared its perspective on the repeated violations and outlined its journey from an experimental cocktail bar to a nationally recognized establishment. Polite Provisions described its initial mission as an effort to create a "space that encouraged deeper social interaction," relying on cocktails as a medium to foster connection.
This vision, however, encountered regulatory challenges early on, especially as the bar’s approach to batching cocktails, using house-made syrups, and setting up draft cocktails did not align with the state's Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) requirements. The company explains, "If bartenders have to take too many steps, make too many grabs, use too many ingredients, and take too long to make the drink, it comes at the expense of connection and conversation."
The 1,200-word Instagram post not only delves into Polite's operational challenges but also offers a lengthy reflection on the clash between creative ambitions and regulatory limitations. The tone of the statement appears part-apologetic and part-nostalgic, analyzing how youthful idealism, coupled with influences from punk and skate culture, initially led Polite's team to dismiss ABC rules as "draconian" and unnecessary. This narrative provides context but may also serve as a subtle attempt to justify prior lapses, positioning the team as rebels hindered by technicalities rather than outright regulatory infractions. Given the length of this statement, one might wonder if the extensive commentary is meant to engage loyal patrons or deflect responsibility by emphasizing the "pure intentions" behind their rule-bending approach.
The 1,200-word Instagram post not only delves into Polite's operational challenges but also offers a lengthy reflection on the clash between creative ambitions and regulatory limitations. The tone of the statement appears part-apologetic and part-nostalgic, analyzing how youthful idealism, coupled with influences from punk and skate culture, initially led Polite's team to dismiss ABC rules as "draconian" and unnecessary. This narrative provides context but may also serve as a subtle attempt to justify prior lapses, positioning the team as rebels hindered by technicalities rather than outright regulatory infractions. Given the length of this statement, one might wonder if the extensive commentary is meant to engage loyal patrons or deflect responsibility by emphasizing the "pure intentions" behind their rule-bending approach.
Historically, Polite Provisions has experienced other regulatory roadblocks. During the 2022 holiday season, the ABC issued a suspension for the bar due to patrons leaving with open containers, a violation that led to a 30-day closure starting December 23, 2022. In 2020, the bar was penalized under CA ABC Section 25177, which restricts the sale of pre-mixed cocktails in refilled bottles. According to company representatives, this was tied to their practice of batching cocktail ingredients, an approach that has defined Polite's drink service.
Further complicating operations, Polite Provisions has faced challenges tied to its sister restaurant, Fortunate Son. While Polite previously allowed food from Fortunate Son to be served within its space, ABC rules mandate clear separation of services due to differing licenses. Undercover agents reportedly managed to bring cocktails from Polite into Fortunate Son, triggering additional violations and ultimately leading Polite to close off access between the two venues.
Further complicating operations, Polite Provisions has faced challenges tied to its sister restaurant, Fortunate Son. While Polite previously allowed food from Fortunate Son to be served within its space, ABC rules mandate clear separation of services due to differing licenses. Undercover agents reportedly managed to bring cocktails from Polite into Fortunate Son, triggering additional violations and ultimately leading Polite to close off access between the two venues.
According to the Public Information Officer for the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, Polite Provisions was served with a 60-day suspension on Friday due to violations California Code of Regulations, Rule 108, which involves moving or editing suspension signs. The incident stems from way back in late 2022 and early 2023, which followed the bar's last forced closure by the ABC. As alleged by the bar, they were making changes to limit access between their neighboring properties and the "construction crew on site knocked the suspension notice down and put it back up in a different place."
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| License #524326 Polite Provisions ABC Accusation |
While these issues have placed constraints on Polite Provisions, the bar's popularity and reputation for innovation remain intact. Despite the setbacks, the ownership team has pledged to take an "academic approach" to ABC compliance, even reworking the space to align with all regulatory guidelines. For the holiday season, Polite’s team will be moving its celebrated festivities to a nearby venue, The Lafayette Hotel, to continue its tradition of festive holiday decor and cocktails.
Interestingly, Polite Provisions’ liquor license is currently in the process of being transferred from Dog & Pony Inc. to Old Sport Inc., both entities owned by founder Arsalun Tafazoli. This transfer suggests a strategic realignment within Consortium Holdings, Tafazoli's hospitality group.
Consortium Holdings, the parent company behind Polite Provisions, has made significant strides in San Diego's hospitality scene, boasting a portfolio of celebrated bars, restaurants, and hotels, including Ironside Fish & Oyster, Born & Raised, and Morning Glory. Founded in 2013, Polite Provisions initially operated in collaboration with acclaimed mixologist Erick Castro, who exited his role as partner of the cocktail bar in January 2023 and now owns historic local dive bar, Gilly's Cocktails in University Heights.
Polite Provisions plans to reopen in January 2025, and will resume operations at 4696 30th Street in University Heights/North Park. For further updates, visit politeprovisions.com and check out the company's full announcement below, as well as the decision by California ABC.
Polite Provisions will be temporarily closed…again, read the announcement on Polite Provisions Instagram page. "15 years ago, when we started tinkering with the idea that would eventually evolve into Polite, our goal was to build a space that encouraged deeper social interaction and relationship building, with a more thoughtful approach to cocktails as the medium for this interactions. However, there was always a tension: we had to measure the requirements of a good cocktail against the ingredients of a good experience. A good cocktail isn’t just a good cocktail: it’s a chance to connect and provide a break from life’s daily struggle. And the success of this experience hinges on the conversation that happens over said cocktail.If bartenders have to take too many steps, make too many grabs, use too many ingredients, and take too long to make the drink, it comes at the expense of connection and conversation with the guests sitting on the other side of the bar. When we aren’t engaging with the guest, it doesn’t matter how good the cocktail is. If it takes forever and is delivered at the expense of acknowledgement and conversation, the experience sucks.So we set to work on trying to optimize the process through trial and error: we reimagined and rebuilt the bar to make the process more efficient. Part of that process was an innovative approach to pre-building cocktails with infusions, batching and begging that would allow us to have them on draft. Our crew worked pretty hard to develop their own techniques and processes. We thought the results were pretty great. We were able to build more consistently durable cocktails that allowed for better conversations between us and our guests - a cocktail that tasted just as good at the first sip as it did at the tenth, and a cocktail that maintained the quality all night, night after night.Then we were visited by agents with the ABC (Alcoholic Beverage Control), who informed us about laws regarding the types of bottles allowed in service, and liquor brand label standards that need to be maintained at all times. Our house-made syrups and infusions did not adhere to labeling rules, along with the labeling of draft handles. Everything from the sizing of bottles, to the types of bottles to use for pre-batch cocktails, to when and where pitchers can be used must all adhere to state laws and regulations. We were in deep, but we were committed to the initial promise of Polite.We also wanted to serve food from our sister restaurant next door to make it easier for our crew to service our guests at Polite. Jowever, they are two separate establishments with different licenses, and if food could go one way, drinks could go the other. In repeated instances, undercover ABC agents were sent in and able to sneak cocktails into our sister restaurant, which led to multiple violations.When we first confronted these issues close to a decade ago, we were still young and inexperienced in how the world actually worked and frankly in denial about these being ‘real’ issues. We believed that because our motives were pure, we had done nothing wrong. We felt emboldened by your ideals and had the zeal and false sense of confidence that accompanies youth. We were just trying to do the best job we could, shining a light on a subculture we lived and breathed.Reflecting back on our formative years and youth, as most of us tend to do from the other side, we recognize there is a tendency to be less rational, more idealistic, and feel a bit more resolute. The issues raised felt more like technicalities rooted in draconian policies dating back to prohibition. We also grew up influenced by punk, hip hop, and skate culture and admittedly looked at authority with a healthy amount of skepticism. This was our art, and we were trying to develop our own aesthetic and style as it related to bartending, and we did not believe we had done anything wrong. We were also receiving a fair amount of acknowledgment and validation on a national scale. We were named a James Beard Foundation Semi-Finalist for Outstanding Bar Program and became the first establishment in San Diego to win a Spirited Award at TOTC.This contributed to the feeling that we were doing good work and certainly helped us drink our own Kool-Aid, inflating our egos in the process. Hence our natural response at the time was to make t-shirts and stickers emblazoned with “Bartending is not a Crime,” a riff on “skateboarding is not a crime.” Needless to say, not our finest hour. Antagonizing any regulatory agency is just plain stupid. And not fully addressing the issues and giving out “Bartending is not a Crime” shirts was not an approach the agents of the ABC took kindly to (rightfully so). Even after having our license suspended the first time, instead of fully addressing the issues, we saw ourselves as victims of an uncaring, outdated, overly bureaucratic, repressive system. Our inner monologue became pretty toxic, just telling each other this is bullshit, they are sending undercover agents in to sneak drinks next door, and trying to shut us down, while we can barely get someone to respond when a crew member had their car stolen or was robbed of their tips after closing the place down. Meanwhile, we were made to feel like criminals because our syrup bottles were not labeled property, and we were trying to make it easier for our crew to serve food to our guests.Needless to say, there was not much empathy for our perspective, and the ABC continued to come in and issue violations for the same issues we refused to resolve, leading to a cycle of violations and inevitable suspensions. As of our last suspension, we finally closed off the access to Fortunate Son from Polite. The construction crew on site knocked the suspension notice down and put it back up in a different place, and the ABC issued yet another violation for that, hence the catalyst for this most recent shutdown. But rest assured, the system works, and we are paying a serious price for our youthful indiscretions. We’ve taken an academic approach to the ABC codebook and have reimagined the entire experience at Polite. We have meticulously accounted for all ABC rules and regulations, and believe we’ve been able to maintain the essence of what makes this place so special. We will be continuing to R&D, and improving the space with a planned re-opening in the first week of January. And while our hearts are firmly rooted within these walls, our crew will be lending their expertise to moving over our holiday festivities this year down the street to Lafayette to offer a little familiarity and consistency in this sea of uncertainty.
Originally published on November 1, 2024.
