Due to rising crime in the area, more and more vendors are leaving downtown San Francisco.
According to the New York Post, this is the case for half of Old Navy dealerships. As of January 2022, at least 22 major companies have already closed or announced intentions to go out of business, including Anthropologie, Banana Republic and Crate & Barrel.
According to the San Francisco Standard, 47% of businesses in the area have closed since 2019. Of the 203 companies present at the time, only 107 would remain. The situation is not expected to improve as AT&T, Nordstrom, Coco Republic and Old Navy companies are set to close more stores starting July 1.
Westfield’s Paris-based parent Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield said the closures showed “conditions for customers, retailers and staff have become unsafe” in the city center.
According to a survey by the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce released in May, about 77% of San Francisco residents believe the city is on the wrong track, and only 30% said they felt safe downtown at night.
Drugs are also a scourge in the industry. Local media, the San Francisco Standard, also reported Tuesday that the city is on track to reach a record 800 drug overdose deaths.
According to police, crime near the San Francisco Center shopping mall has increased slightly in 2023 compared to the year before. The number of reported serious crimes increased by 1.4%, while the number of robberies increased by 5.6%.