Bloomingdale’s has announced plans to close its large store within the San Francisco Centre shopping mall in late spring 2025, marking another major retailer exiting the downtown area. The upscale department store, owned by Macy’s, has been a fixture in San Francisco for nearly 20 years, occupying approximately 339,000 square feet in the mall near Union Square.
In a statement provided to FOX Business, Bloomingdale’s expressed gratitude for its time in the city, saying, “San Francisco has been home to the brand for nearly two incredible decades.” While acknowledging the upcoming closure, the retailer signaled optimism about returning in the future, adding that it looks forward to introducing “new ways to provide enhanced service to our loyal local shoppers.”
The decision follows a broader trend of retail exits in the San Francisco Centre and the surrounding Union Square area. In recent years, major brands such as Nordstrom, Adidas, Michael Kors, J. Crew, and American Eagle have shuttered their locations in the shopping mall, citing a mix of changing business conditions, declining foot traffic, and industry-wide shifts in consumer behavior. Despite these losses, the mall continues to house brands like Coach, Kate Spade, Rolex, and Bath & Body Works. Additionally, it secured seven new leases for retail and office spaces in mid-2023, according to a report from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Trident Pacific Real Estate Group, which became the receiver for the San Francisco Centre in 2023, and JLL, the property’s listed management firm, did not immediately comment on Bloomingdale’s departure.
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie called the decision “disappointing” in a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), but emphasized ongoing efforts to revitalize the city’s downtown and retail sectors. In the post, Lurie said he remains “energized every day by businesses of all sizes opening and growing in our city” and highlighted initiatives to make downtown “safe and clean.”
In an accompanying video, the mayor underscored plans to launch a new police task force aimed at improving safety for visitors, shoppers, and convention-goers in downtown San Francisco. He pointed to the successful hosting of recent events like the JPMorgan Healthcare Conference as an example of the city’s potential for recovery and its ability to attract future events, including the Lunar New Year celebrations and the NBA All-Star Game.
“There is a lot to look forward to in our city,” Lurie said. “We are going to get this right.” He also assured residents and businesses of his administration’s commitment to working “tirelessly” to bring retailers, conventions, and businesses back to San Francisco.
The departure of Bloomingdale’s adds to challenges for Union Square and the broader downtown area, which have seen declining retail occupancy amid economic changes, post-pandemic recovery struggles, and public safety concerns. Despite these hurdles, city officials are continuing their push to attract new business and reinvigorate the area’s reputation as a retail and cultural hub.
Bloomingdale’s has not yet announced any plans for future locations in the San Francisco area following the closure. The company’s broader strategy and the potential impact on its loyal local customer base remain areas of interest as the timeline for the closure approaches.
