It is a weird time to walk down Market Street. If you’ve lived in the Bay Area for more than a minute, you remember when the Westfield Mall San Francisco California—now officially rebranded as the San Francisco Centre—was the undisputed crown jewel of West Coast retail. It wasn't just a place to buy jeans. It was an architectural statement. You had that massive, 102-foot-wide historic glass dome resting atop the old Emporium building, those curved escalators that felt like something out of a sci-fi movie, and a food court that actually served decent food.
But things changed. Fast.
If you visit today, the vibe is... different. It’s quieter. There are more plywood boards than there are window displays in some sections. Some people say the mall is "dead," while others insist it’s just in a messy transition phase. Honestly, the truth is somewhere in the middle, buried under layers of corporate debt restructuring, shifting foot traffic patterns, and a city-wide debate about what downtowns are even for anymore.
The Massive Shift from Westfield to San Francisco Centre
Let's get the naming thing out of the way first. People still call it Westfield. They probably will for the next decade. However, in June 2023, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) and Brookfield Properties basically handed the keys back to the lenders. They stopped making payments on a $558 million loan. When a massive global real estate firm decides to walk away from a flagship property in a major American city, people notice. It sent shockwaves through the retail world.
Why did they leave? It wasn't just one thing. It was a "perfect storm" of high-profile closures—like the massive Nordstrom that occupied the top five floors—and concerns over public safety. URW explicitly cited "challenging operating conditions" in downtown San Francisco. Currently, the property is managed by a receiver, Trident Pacific, and they’ve rebranded it as the San Francisco Centre.
It’s a transitional period.
The mall is currently caught in a legal and financial limbo. While many stores remain open—shout out to Bloomingdale's for holding it down—the vacancy rate is impossible to ignore. Walking through the upper levels feels a bit like exploring a luxury ghost ship. You see the remnants of the Nordstrom signage, the empty corridors that used to lead to high-end boutiques, and you realize how much the retail landscape has shifted toward online shopping and suburban "lifestyle centers" where parking is easier.
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Is it safe? The Reality of Shopping at Westfield Mall San Francisco California Today
Look, everyone has an opinion on San Francisco’s "doom loop" narrative. If you watch certain news outlets, you’d think Market Street is a war zone. If you listen to city boosters, everything is sunshine and rainbows. Neither is totally accurate.
The reality of visiting the mall right now is that security is very visible. You'll see guards at almost every entrance and patrolling the floors. It feels controlled, but it also feels a bit tense. You don’t have that breezy, carefree shopping energy of 2015. You're there to get what you need and probably head back to the BART station or your Uber.
The biggest loss wasn't just the stores; it was the foot traffic. When you lose a massive anchor like Nordstrom, you lose the "halo effect." Smaller shops like Lego, Adidas, and various jewelry stores relied on the thousands of people who would wander in to see the big department stores. Without that constant stream of people, the mall feels hollowed out.
The Architectural Magic Still Exists
Despite the drama, the building itself remains an absolute marvel. It’s easy to forget that the Westfield Mall San Francisco California site is a piece of living history. The Emporium dome was painstakingly preserved during the massive $400 million redevelopment that finished around 2006.
If you go there today, look up.
That dome survived the 1906 earthquake. Well, the building did, mostly. It was reconstructed and integrated into the modern mall structure. Standing under it is still one of the coolest free things you can do in the city. The curved escalators—manufactured by Mitsubishi Electric—are still some of the only ones of their kind in the United States. They curve in a spiral, which sounds simple but is actually a nightmare of engineering. They still work. They still offer that panoramic view of the multiple levels of retail.
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What’s Actually Open Right Now?
You might be wondering if it’s even worth the trip. If you’re looking for a specific brand, check the directory before you go.
- Bloomingdale's: This is the anchor keeping the lights on. It’s massive, well-stocked, and still feels premium.
- The Food Court: It’s diminished, but you can still grab a quick bite. It’s not the destination it once was, but it functions.
- Cinemark Century San Francisco Centre 9: This is actually a major draw. The theater is still running, and it’s one of the better places to catch a movie in the city because of the stadium seating and the fact that it's tucked away from the street noise.
- AERIE / American Eagle: Surprisingly, some of the mid-tier fashion brands are still hanging on.
The problem is the "dead zones." There are entire hallways where every storefront is shuttered. It creates a psychological effect where shoppers feel like they shouldn't be there, which further drives down traffic. It's a feedback loop that the new management is desperately trying to break.
The Future: Will It Become Offices or Housing?
There has been a lot of talk about what happens next. Mayor London Breed even floated the idea of tearing parts of it down to build a soccer stadium. Honestly? That seems unlikely given the cost. Others have suggested converting the empty upper floors into lab space for biotech or housing for students.
The issue with converting a mall into housing is plumbing. Malls are big boxes designed for one or two massive bathrooms per floor. To make apartments, you have to rip the whole thing apart to get water and sewage to every individual unit. It’s incredibly expensive.
For now, the receiver is trying to stabilize the ship. They are looking for new types of tenants—maybe "experiential" retail like indoor pickleball, art installations, or tech showcases. Basically, anything that can’t be bought on Amazon.
The Westfield Mall San Francisco California represents the identity crisis of the American city. If people don't go to an office five days a week, they don't shop downtown. If they don't shop downtown, the tax base erodes. If the tax base erodes, city services struggle. It’s all connected.
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Practical Steps for Visitors
If you're planning a visit, don't just wing it. Downtown San Francisco requires a bit of strategy these days.
First, take public transit. The Powell Street BART and MUNI station lets you out literally in the basement of the mall. You don't even have to walk outside on Market Street if you don't want to. It’s the safest and most efficient way to get there. Parking in the nearby garages is notoriously expensive and, frankly, "bipping" (car break-ins) remains a localized sport in San Francisco. If you must drive, leave absolutely nothing in your car. Not even a candy wrapper.
Second, go during the day. The energy of the area is much better during business hours when there are workers and tourists around.
Third, support the remaining vendors. If you want the mall to survive, you have to give it a reason to exist. Grab a coffee, see a movie, or buy that pair of shoes you've been eyeing.
The story of the Westfield Mall San Francisco California isn't over. It's just in a really awkward chapter. The transition from a corporate-owned mega-mall to a locally managed urban center is painful, but it's also an opportunity to reinvent what a "gathering place" looks like in a post-pandemic world. Whether it becomes a tech hub, an entertainment district, or a revitalized retail center, it remains a landmark that San Francisco isn't ready to give up on just yet.
To make the most of your trip, focus on the unique elements you can't get elsewhere—the architecture, the high-end department store experience at Bloomingdale's, and the convenience of the central location. Check the official San Francisco Centre website for the most current list of operating hours and open stores, as things are shifting month to month. Look for local events or pop-up shops that often take over vacant spaces, as these represent the new "grassroots" attempt to bring life back to the hallways. Stay aware of your surroundings as you would in any major city, but don't let the headlines keep you from seeing a truly iconic piece of San Francisco history.