330 Ritch

FIRST FRIDAYS are always the most «cracking» nights here. I’ve come on a Saturday night for a birthday and our party was essentially the only people in the venue.
But First Fridays (brought to you by Above Ground Productions) are always packed. There’s always line but the music is always amazing.
—
And now they have closed. Wwomp

Other reviewers say this place is «cutty», but I’d say it’s more «shooty» than «cutty» judging from the reporting by NBC news:
«The shooting occurred at about 1:15 a.m., at the nightclub 330 Ritch, located at 360 Ritch St., about one block from AT&T Park, according to fire officials.
At least three men were transported to local hospitals with gunshot wounds following the shooting, according to police.»
The bouncers at the door like to play high and mighty with the people in line. The crowd is mainly ghetto roosters.
Between the bouncers and the crowd, it’s a very uncomfortable place for those of us who don’t like «cutty» or «shooty.» I won’t return to this place unless I want to get cut or shot or pushed around while waiting in line.

I agree with the other Unilocal reviews that this place can be a bit cutty, but that makes it that much more fun! Guest list is $ 10 if you get in before 11:00 pm. The line situation is a bit of a mess, but it is fairly easy to push or cut your way to the front of the line.
I’ve been here on First Friday where they play 90’s rap and hip hop and First Saturday where they play current rap and hip hop. Both times I came here, I had tons of fun and had no problems meeting and dancing with girls compared to other clubs in SF. There are two bar areas and a pretty big dance floor. There is also a pretty spacious smoking section out front.

I had a really bad experience here on Friday, after supporting this business for years. Here’s the e-​mail I sent to them today.
I’m writing this e-​mail because I had a really bad experience at your event on Friday, and because I have been a loyal supporter of your event I thought you should know.
I’ve been coming to this event since 2010, and always have a good time because the venue is a good size, the music is great, and the crown is usually diverse and drama free. I always recommend the event to friends, both visiting from out of town and who are just looking for something new to do. For awhile I came every single first friday, in the past year I’ve come less but still supported when I could.
Last Friday, I decided to celebrate my birthday there. I had a group of about 30 people going, and made sure everyone knew to put themselves on the guest list ahead of time and arrive early because I know there is always a wait.
I got there at 10 p.m., with an hour to spare before the guest list was closed, I figured that would be plenty of time. I sent a text out to a friend to let him know I was in line at 10.
At 10:20, the line had not moved at all and I was worried that my friends and I might have to pay full price even though we arrived early. I walked up to the front door and spoke to a bouncer and asked if me and my friends would still be able to get in for the guest list price, even if it was after 11, since we had been there since 10. He said yes, that it wouldn’t be a problem. I mentioned that it was my birthday and also that I had a diverse group of people with me because honestly, the crowd, aside from my group, was not diverse. I thought they were holding up the line just to make people pay $ 20 instead of $ 5, the bouncer reassured me that we would not have to pay more than $ 5.
At 10:55, the line had only moved a few feet. We were still about 20 – 25 ft from the door. I went to the front again, this time spoke with a guy who was about 5’9″, and not a bouncer but had a clipboard in his hand. I explained that previously the bouncer told me my group would be able to get in for $ 5, and that I had been in line since 10. The man asked me to point out where my group was, and I did, and he proceeded to tell me that I was lying and I hadn’t been in line since 10. I showed him the text I sent my friend when I got in line and he brushed me off, telling me that I had to be lying. I asked to speak to someone else and he told me there was nobody else I could speak to.
I’d like to point out that I was completely sober, and talking to the people at the door very calmly and respectfully. They brushed me off and accused me of lying, which I thought was extremely insulting because I had no reason to lie. I was there to celebrate, with a group of friends who were happy to support the event and planned to buy drinks and have a good time. Instead of trying to accomodate us, we were lied to and brushed aside, and on top of that I was called a liar.
At this point, we left and went to another bar, John Collins, that was accommodating to my group. If the people at the door at 330 had been willing to at least let us in for $ 10 or something lower than $ 20, or had at least been respectful to us, I would have been completely understanding. I am a SF native, I’ve been out a lot and I understand that you aren’t always going to get in for the guest list price, and you take that chance when you go out. However, on Friday we were disrespected, and I felt like you guys really played us.
After supporting your event for so many years I will never come back. And I will make sure to tell people about how badly we were treated on Friday. I have never been treated so rudely at any lounge or club in the Bay Area, LA, or Vegas. It’s too bad that what was once a fun, chill event has become what it has.
I’ve never written anything like this after going out somewhere, I usually just go with the flow but I thought you should know.

First thought of 330 Ritch: damn this place is cutty!
as you all probably know by now, this spot is in an alleyway and yes it can seem cutty. BUT, this spot does not deceive. I came by halloween weekend and it wasn’t that poppin but it’s obviously about FIRST FRIDAYS! 1^st friday of the month, it’s about to get crackin with that 90s music rollin and some mixed in top 40 for the crowd too. be careful, you may end up paying 20 at the door if you make it for guestlist before 11, but in the end, it all seemed worth it.
i def. need to try that chicken and waffled next time i’m drunk

I went here with a large group of people.
They play a mix of 90s hip hop to modern.
If you email them, you’ll get on the guest list and not have to pay a cover charge as long as you show up before 11.
If you’re not on the guest list, it’s $ 10 before 11 and $ 15 after.
Pretty sure I don’t pay to get into a club… period. So the guestlist it was.
anyways, they have cheap beer, full bar, and a large dance floor.
They have a very large mix of people which I really liked as I prefer not to go to clubs/​bars that only have asian people or only have white people and so on. I like the diversity.

Mr. NSS: «I want you to meet my sister… on my birthday… at a club.»
Me: «Uhhh…»
Mr. NSS: «My older sister is the hardest to impress out of my entire family. She thinks no one is good enough for me. Oh but don’t worry, once you pass her test, it’s easy sailing from there.»
Me *thinking*: «F*CKKKKKK MYYYYYYY LIFEEEEEEE!»
Those who party with me know that I can get a teeeeny eeeeeeeny weeeeeny bit out of control especially when Mr. Goose makes his appearance. OK, maybe at times, I’m straight out of pocket. =X
Giving myself a pep talk as if I was preparing myself for an interview, I had to tell myself over and over: «NO SHOTS!» And, definitely no showing boobies either. Can’t look like a skank now and definitely not a sloppy drunk one at that.
DOOMSDAY.
At the last minute we ended up at 330 Ritch which is tucked inside an alley. 330 Ritch is a restaurant by day (Little Skillet), club at night on the weekends, and a music venue for live performances. 330 Ritch is a hip hop club but they have Salsa nights on Sunday.
C O V E R
$ 15 (totally not worth it but thanks for paying for everyone’s cover Mr. NSS)
P R O M O T E R S
Good Muzik Party
D R E S S C O D E
None. Coat check is $ 2 at the front.
M U S I C
Hip Hop, Old School Hip Hop, and 90s Throwbacks
C R O W D
The crowd was very mixed and a little more on the ghetto side. From your Napoleon Dynamites, your flute-​totting band campers, your plastic rimmed glass wearing hipsters, your Asian square bears to your ghetto hoochie «I can see your coochie when you drop it like it’s hot» mamas and their entourage of cockblockers, there’s a little something for everyone.
B A R /​D R I N K S
There were two bars but only one was open. Drinks were $ 8 – 9.
A M B I A N C E /​D E C O R
Like an industrial basement with exposed red brick walls, 330 Ritch is one large room with several booths for table service and one main bar. There’s a back bar but that was roped off. There’s a small dance floor though some people *AHEM* decided to make certain areas their OWN bedroom, I mean dance floor. Tsk Tsk…
R E S T R O O M S
Clean for club standards meaning the toilet flushes and the sink runs. There’s 3 stalls in the ladies room.
P A R K I N G
Good luck competing with peeps going to The Grand nearby. There’s a parking lot at the Wells Fargo a block away on Brannon/​4^th for a $ 10 flat fee.
As a birthday gift to Mr. NSS, I «behaved» the entire night though I have to say, the thought of getting the stare of death as he holds my hair back while his older sister shakes her head in disapproval pretty much scared the sh*t of me.
Round 1: PASSED.
Round 2: I’ll be meeting his baby sister tonight… at a Japanese restaurant.
Y’all know what that means right!!! SAKEEEEE BOMBSSS!!! I’m kidding…
Wish me luck! =)

Went here for a Jhene Aiko concert which was a good venue for her type of music and crowd that it drew in. There was only one bar open that night which made it very annoying and difficult to grab drinks in between songs because it got very crowded. (There are two bars in the venue)
Other than that, the staff was rude. The girl at the door checking our tickets was rude off the top and we were polite to her the whole time.

Is it just me, or are there a lot of places that just name themselves after their address? I mean, sure it’s handy, but it’s hardly original. 1015 Folsom, Twenty Five Lusk, 111 Minna, 330 Ritch… oh wait. That’s not right, 330 Ritch is actually at 360 Ritch. Huh, I guess that is original — naming yourself after an address… that isn’t the one listed for your business. Nice.
The place is pretty small — basically one big room, with a few tables on one side, a small «stage» for the DJ on the other, bars on the other two opposing walls (though only one was open), and the center being the default dance floor. Dress code is pretty casual, for better or worse. It’s nice being able to look good yet be comfortable while seeing all the pretty ladies in their dresses and club wear. At the same time, it’s a little surprising seeing what some people were wearing though… everyone wants to dress casual, but damn, it’s not like you’re not going out to a movie people. Like the crowd, the music the DJ DJ played was a diverse mix of stuff — mostly Top 40 and hip-​hop, ranging from old school classics to more ecent hits.
Though I had heard about 330 Ritch from friends in the past, I probably wouldn’t have checked it out if it weren’t for my good friend’s birthday. The place isn’t awful, but there are better spots in the city. I do like how it’s kind of like a club but not (though my ears are still ringing like it is) and that the drinks weren’t terribly priced. Still, I doubt I would make it a point of coming back, though I wouldn’t be opposed either. If you and your friends decide on giving 330 Ritch a shot though, try to get there before 11:00 so you can beat cover.

So we celebrated Part II of my friends birthday here last night. I haven’t been here in the last hmm 10years HAHAHA but what a big change. It’s more spacious and modern looking. I even saw they are a restaurant during the day. Music was Top 40’s all night and that I like!
Another girls night out was a success! Dancing and Drinking = FUN!

Chill spot. music was dope for the first hour or so we were there. then they had a performer and the music kind of went downhill from there. stuff you couldn’t really get down with. After failed attempts at other places this past Saturday. we decided to check out 330. $ 10 cover. not too bad. drinks are not skimped but not sure how much they are. hopefully it was average. People inside are just having a good time, dancing and feeling themselves. There are some annoying, creepy dudes… that don’t understand NO… and keep coming back to just get rejected. odd. The place reeks of marijuana and food (they serve food. I saw the kitchen lol)… but yeah this place is probably not the scene we are typically used to… but the music might be what brings me back again.