Nordstrom closing San Francisco stores due to deteriorating conditions.

Nordstrom to Close San Francisco Stores Amid Worsening Conditions

Retail giant Nordstrom has announced the closure of both its department stores in downtown San Francisco in the coming months, citing worsening conditions in the city. The Westfield San Francisco Centre store will close in August, while the smaller store across the street will shut on 1 July. The move follows a number of departures from prominent firms in recent months as crime and homelessness plague the California metropolis.

Difficult Decisions

“Decisions like this are never easy, and this one has been especially difficult,” said Jamie Nordstrom, the company’s chief stores officer. “But as many of you know, the dynamics of the downtown San Francisco market have changed dramatically over the past several years, impacting customer foot traffic to our stores and our ability to operate successfully.”

Increasing Locations Elsewhere

Despite the closures of the two downtown stores, Nordstrom intends to substantially increase the number of locations elsewhere in the broader Bay Area.

Other Closures

The move from Nordstrom comes shortly after Whole Foods announced plans to shutter a location at Trinity Place in downtown San Francisco over drug use outside the store. Pharmacy giant Walgreens likewise closed several locations in San Francisco two years ago, while technology retailer Best Buy has struggled with safety issues related to organized retail crime.

Organized Retail Crime

Retailers across the nation have also contended with increases in retail theft, much of which is increasingly organized by criminal enterprises, according to a report released last month by the National Retail Federation. The trade association said crime networks have become increasingly “violent” and “brazen” in their tactics over the past two years, using methods such as smash-and-grab, weapons, or threats of violence against store employees or customers.

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