San Francisco's biggest mall loses another clothing store
Zara has shuttered for good at a struggling San Francisco mall - the latest in a string of closures. The fashion retailer closed its location in San Francisco Centre last month, despite its lease being set to expire in 2027.
An unidentified former employee told the San Francisco Examiner that Zara cleared out on June 20, and all its windows were covered a few days later. The 27,500-square-foot space was one of the largest remaining stores left in the huge California mall, which has grown increasingly empty.
Besides Zara, Milk Tee shuttered last month , citing the 'environment, high theft, and low sales' at the mall as reasons behind the closure. Other stores that have recently left the mall include Oak and Fort, AG Jeans, Nectar, Chalo, and Steve Madden.
The shopping center, which was once home to over 200 stores, currently has less than 40 still operating and an open food court. The mall itself is set to be sold at auction on July 24, after five delays.
Opening its doors in 1988, the structure was a nine-story building with the first spiral elevator, and created a San Franciscan phrase 'Meet me under the Dome.' During the early years, the mall's largest store was Nordstrom, which closed after nearly three decades in 2023.
Bloomingdale's became the biggest after opening its doors in 2006, but like Nordstrom, the business shuttered this year blaming changes in the retail landscape. The center also said goodbye to brands like American Eagle, Adidas, and J.Crew last year.
American Eagle's closure made headlines after the chain claimed it had over 100 security incidents that occurred between May 2020 and May 2023. Some of the offenses included customers brandishing firearms and verbally assaulting employees. Besides fan-favorite fashion retailers, Burke Williams Day Spa left the mall after 20 years in February despite the company's A-list clientele.
Bill Amour, president of the spa, explained that 'deteriorating' issues that 'forced out' other tenants were responsible for their decision. 'Today, the San Francisco Centre is operating with only a 20 percent to 30 percent tenancy factor... While we held on as long as possible, the reality is that we can no longer operate in a location where the city fails to provide for the safety and wellbeing of its people and businesses,' Amour said at the time.
Besides the San Francisco Centre, luxury brands have closed stores in Union Square, which is less than 10 minutes away from the mall. The North Face's Union Square store shuttered last year, and the rise in crime and drug activity were rumored factors behind the closure.
Saks Fifth Avenue bid farewell to its Union Square location in May after its parent company merged with Neiman Marcus Group last year. The Macy's store in Union Square is on the company's list of 150 store shutters.
Former San Francisco Mayor London Breed was heartbroken about the news despite the business being overrun by criminals . DailyMail.com has reached out to Zara and the San Francisco Centre for comment about the location shutter and other stores that could potentially close at the mall this year.
