BELOW SUPERNAV drop zone ⇩

Nordstrom closing two San Francisco stores

  • Nordstrom is just one of several retailers leaving downtown San Francisco
  • Urban centers have struggled with a drop in foot traffic from remote work
  • Some mayors are urging return-to-office mandates to combat the slump

MAIN AREA TOP drop zone ⇩

MAIN AREA TOP drop zone ⇩

(NewsNation) — Nordstrom and other retailers are closing their doors in downtown San Francisco as urban centers across the country struggle to deal with a lingering drop in foot traffic caused by pandemic-era changes to work habits.

Nordstrom announced it would not be renewing leases for their store at the Westfield Centre and their Market Street Rack location. The company’s downtown stores have been in San Francisco for 35 years.

Nordstrom isn’t the only retailer shuttering San Francisco locations. Anthropologie and Saks off 5th, both also located on Market Street, are shutting down those locations as well. Other stores, including H&M, Abercrombie & Fitch, Gap and Crate and Barrel, have also left the downtown area.

The move is attributed to changes to the downtown atmosphere as San Francisco businesses have been slow to bring people back into the office. The drop in foot traffic and increasing inflation are two factors in the decision.

It’s not just a problem for San Francisco. As workers have been reluctant to return to the office after working remotely during the pandemic, urban areas across the country have struggled. Retail workers and restaurants who relied on commuters are now facing a drop in business.

Some cities have attempted to solve by encouraging business to force workers to return to offices. Mayors have pushed offices to mandate in-person work in cities like New York and Washington, D.C. to try to bolster downtown businesses. While employers and officials may want workers back on site, the vast majority of workers prefer hybrid or remote jobs.

Major retailers like Nordstrom, meanwhile, have increasingly turned their focus to suburban stores.

Business

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed

Site Settings Survey

 

MAIN AREA MIDDLE drop zone ⇩

Trending on NewsNation

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241119133138

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241202111905

MAIN AREA BOTTOM drop zone ⇩

tt

KC Chiefs parade shooting: 1 dead, 21 shot including 9 kids | Morning in America

Witness of Chiefs parade shooting describes suspect | Banfield

Kansas City Chiefs parade shooting: Mom of 2 dead, over 20 shot | Banfield

WWE star Ashley Massaro 'threatened' by board to keep quiet about alleged rape: Friend | Banfield

Friend of WWE star: Ashley Massaro 'spent hours' sobbing after alleged rape | Banfield

Mostly Cloudy

la

59°F Mostly Cloudy Feels like 59°
Wind
0 mph SSE
Humidity
74%
Sunrise
Sunset

Tonight

Mostly cloudy skies during the evening. Areas of fog developing after midnight. Low 49F. Winds light and variable.
49°F Mostly cloudy skies during the evening. Areas of fog developing after midnight. Low 49F. Winds light and variable.
Wind
2 mph N
Precip
12%
Sunset
Moon Phase
Waxing Crescent