Two realities in SF: Ghost malls and bustling shopping centers

SAN FRANCISCO – It’s a week away from Christmas, which means the final shopping sprint is on.

Depending on where you shop, people are seeing different realities in San Francisco. 

Crocker Galleria on Post Street in downtown San Francisco is all decked out for the holidays.

But there are few shoppers, if anyone, in sight at the long-vacant mall.

Today, it only has three tenants, including La Luna Cupcakes.

Jesus Bundia has worked here for the last 14 years.

“Before the pandemic, it was a very busy mall, with a farmers market, every Tuesday and Thursday,” Bundia said. “After the pandemic it disappeared, many shops they leave.”

The mall is reportedly slated for a long-planned multi-million dollar renovation.

Nearby Emporium Centre, formerly known as Westfield Mall, is half empty and headed for a foreclosure auction. 

On Wednesday night, it was moderately busy considering the number of store closures.

“Westfield Mall used to be big back in the day, but now it’s like really empty… it’s kind of sad,” said San Francisco resident Trisha Pai. “But I think that’s also because there’s a lot of people who are interested in online shopping now.”

“I heard that there’s money coming into the city with these new AI companies or whatever, so maybe that might help incentivize companies to invest more,” said Prateek Alat of San Francisco. 

Stonestown Galleria, by contrast, was busy with shopper, particularly in the parking lot and at its many eateries. 

The mall is adding three new restaurants by the first quarter of next year, including Le Soleil and Supreme Dumplings. 

A recently opened entertainment arcade center called Round1 Bowling & Arcade has attracted crowds.

“There’s still a lot of like nice stuff, and new accommodations that are being added to the store, like the movie theater, so it’s getting new additions, unlike a lot of other malls that are dying off,” said shopper Conner Oliver. 

He said he last visited Westfield Mall four years ago, and he stayed away in part due to lack of convenience and reports of crime.