San Francisco moves to close nine Tenderloin stores accused of illegal gambling, drugs, and stolen goods sales

City attorney actions target businesses alleged to operate as nuisance properties in the Tenderloin

San Francisco has moved to shut down or remove nine Tenderloin-area businesses that officials allege operated as “fronts” for illegal activity, including drug sales, unlawful gambling and fencing stolen merchandise. The actions combine civil litigation, coordination with property owners and search-warrant enforcement by the San Francisco Police Department.

The nine businesses identified in city actions are IG Mini Mart (512 Ellis St.), Fullmoon Gift & More Inc. (258 Taylor St.), Sing Sing Café (309 Hyde St.), Tenderloin Market and Deli (200 Leavenworth St.), US Smoke Shop (415 Ellis St.), Family Corner Discounts (401 Ellis St.), Ed’s Market (153 Turk St.), EZ Dollar Discount Store (335 Jones St.) and SF Discount Market (238 Leavenworth St.).

Nighttime retail restrictions used as an enforcement lever

Officials tied the crackdown to San Francisco’s nighttime safety ordinance, adopted in July 2024, which restricts certain retailers in designated high-activity areas from operating between midnight and 5 a.m. City enforcement teams used the measure to identify businesses that continued operating during prohibited hours and to build broader cases alleging persistent nuisance conditions.

As of late January 2026, city officials said some stores were already closed, while others were subject to eviction proceedings or pending litigation. In several cases, the city attorney’s office said it contacted property owners about alleged illegal activity and that landlords then initiated steps to remove tenants.

Search warrants and allegations of contraband

Police searches described by officials included seizures of illegal gambling machines, cash, suspected drugs and related paraphernalia, along with items alleged to be stolen retail merchandise.

• At US Smoke Shop (415 Ellis St.), officials reported the discovery of cash, gambling machines and pistol magazines during enforcement activity.

• At Tenderloin Market and Deli (200 Leavenworth St.), officials described the seizure of slot machines, cash and a firearm-related recovery during a search-warrant operation.

• At SF Discount Market (238 Leavenworth St.), officials said investigators seized gambling machines, cash, ammunition-related items and goods displayed for sale with retail price stickers or branding from other stores, alongside drug paraphernalia and cannabis-related items.

Legal posture: civil actions, evictions and ongoing cases

The city’s approach relies heavily on civil enforcement aimed at abating alleged public nuisances, which can lead to court orders restricting operations, financial penalties, and periods of closure. Separately, police investigations and evidence recovered during searches may support criminal proceedings; officials indicated those matters remain ongoing for the targeted businesses.

What comes next for the ordinance and affected corridors

With the nighttime safety ordinance nearing a scheduled expiration, city leaders have been weighing whether to extend it and potentially expand late-night restrictions to other areas cited for high levels of street crime and drug-market activity, including parts of the 6th Street corridor and South of Market. Any expansion would require additional legislative action and could widen the city’s toolkit for regulating late-night retail operations in designated zones.

In public statements, city officials have framed the effort as an attempt to disrupt locations alleged to attract repeat criminal activity while separating enforcement from legitimate neighborhood-serving businesses.