The Planning Department has opened up an enforcement action against bubble tea chain Quickly for potentially violating city ordinances regulating chain retailers. On Sunday, Quickly opened a new location at 716 Irving Street, formerly home to Irving Street Cafe. Because Quickly qualifies as formula retail, the shop required a new conditional use permit and a neighborhood notification.

A Department of Building Inspection permit was granted on March 6 to "retile store & painting" at the former cafe location, but Quickly is a global chain with 2000 franchise locations, and 71 in northern California. As such, the business was required to apply for a conditional use permit and should have also sent neighborhood notification messages to businesses within 150 feet. 

We contacted several businesses in the area earlier this week, and none had received any word that Quickly was planning to open at 716 Irving. Because Planning never received an affidavit for formula retail use at the location, the department has opened an enforcement action to be managed by a member of the department's northwest sector team. We first raised this issue earlier this week and SFist got wind of the planning action yesterday afternoon. 

San Francisco classifies any business with more than 11 worldwide locations and two standardized design features as a chain retailer. Standardized features include decor, trademarks, a building's facade, employee uniforms, signage, color schemes, service marks and a "standardized array of merchandise," meaning 50% or more of the store's products show the same brand.

City planners have wide leeway when it comes to punishing entities that don't follow regulations. The agency may levy administrative penalties like fines and can also refer the matter to another city agency for enforcement. We've contacted Planning to find out more; we're also waiting to hear back from District 5 Supervisor London Breed's office for any additional information on the issue.