Zara & 7 More Stores Flee San Francisco Centre

Zara has officially closed its massive two-level store at San Francisco Centre, joining a wave of other major retailers like AG Jeans, Oak + Fort, and Steve Madden in a mass exodus from the struggling downtown mall. Once a thriving retail hub, the mall is now operating at just 20–30% capacity and faces a $625 million lien auction in July.Why are so many brands abandoning the Centre? From rising crime and safety concerns to a dramatic drop in foot traffic and economic shifts post-pandemic, we break down the collapse of this iconic retail space — and what’s next for downtown San Francisco.