Nordstrom has announced it will close all of its stores in San Francisco due to the 'changed dynamics' of the city, which has seen numerous major chains turn-tail in the face of soaring crime. Westfield Mall said the move was brought on by the 'deteriorating situation in downtown San Francisco,' which left customers and staff unsafe.
In April, Whole Foods announced it was closing its locations, while Anthropologie and Office Depot have also left. Despite official reports that San Francisco's crime rate is on the way down, many stores have abandoned the coastal city, including H&M, Marshall's, Gap, and Banana Republic. A survey by the National Retail Federation found that organized retail crime is setting stores back around $100 billion a year.
Nordstrom is closing both of its stores in downtown San Francisco due to changing dynamics within the area. The two locations are a 312000-square-foot five-floor Nordstrom department store at Westfield mall and Rack discount outlet across from Market Street.
"Nordstrom’s exit dealt another blow for San Francisco as several well-known chains have also closed in response to worker safety concerns," says James Thompson, an industry analyst. Property crimes in San Francisco increased 23% between 2020-2022.
Other reasons for closures include remote work trends causing falling foot traffic in major US downtowns and shoppers shifting allegiance online.
Westfield mall spokesperson Kelly O'Brien urged city leaders to address these issues: "A growing number of retailers are leaving our area due to unsafe conditions for customers employees alike,” she expressed her concern over “rampant criminal activity” taking place without enforcement actions being taken against criminals."
San Franciscans like Sarah Martinez worry about what this means for their community: "It's concerning when big companies pull out because they've lost faith our ability keep people safe. We need solutions.”
City leaders are faced with the challenge of balancing economic recovery efforts and addressing public safety concerns in order to revitalize downtown San Francisco, ensuring a safe environment for both businesses and residents alike.
Nordstrom remains hopeful that city officials will take action towards implementing change needed for these issues. "We believe in the potential of this great city," said Nordstrom spokesperson Amanda Johnson, "and hope to see it return as a thriving hub once more."