A once-iconic shopping mall in San Francisco is set to close its doors for good next week, following a surge in crime that has driven away shoppers and prompted a wave of store closures. The San Francisco Centre, located near Union Square, will shut on January 26, according to an employee of its last remaining retailer.
The mall's entrance to the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system has already been sealed. Alicia Trost, BART's chief communications officer, confirmed that the general manager had informed them of the closure, adding that any future owner could reopen the entrance under a new agreement.
Covering 1.5 million square feet, the centre was the city's largest shopping mall, previously known as Westfield Mall. However, in recent years it has suffered from a rise in crime, exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. Data from the San Francisco Standard shows that in the southern district, where the mall is located, crime reports jumped 92% year-on-year between January and August, driven by nonviolent thefts.
As a result, businesses have steadily left. Reports indicate that restaurant chains such as Panda Express and Shake Shack were among the first to go. By late 2025, fewer than 20 shops remained in a centre with capacity for around 200.
The future of the site is uncertain. Last year, a consortium of financial institutions, including Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase, acquired the building for $134 million. Shoppers have expressed sadness, with one former customer recalling happy memories of meeting friends and window shopping.
