FWIW, the company has been planning to exit US markets.
Still another blow to the downtown area, eh? I wish that mall would do like some places in Bangkok and create opportunities for smaller businesses. Since they have empty space anyhow, use those for pop up shop residencies.
I can't figure out why anyone would travel to a culturally rich city like San Francisco, and then choose to spend time in a bland place like Westfield. It is like every other mall in the United States. GNC, Starbucks, Foot Locker, Guess, Lululemon, etc... I can get that in any (often dying) mall in America. Meanwhile, San Francisco's China Town in a few blocks away from Union Square, with a wealth of fantastic food, shopping, and original stores.
There is a reason these formulaic suburban style malls are dying. Perhaps we should not be too surprised when this happens in San Francisco.
Man San Francisco is really on the ropes. I say this as a native who loves the city. People complained about what the influx of tech wealth did to the city but the withdrawal of that wealth is likely to be even worse. And the naked human misery factor there just remains unacountably high.
Discussion for all things Bay Area.