Historic SF Business May Shut Down Due to Crime

A Luxury ‌Retailer in San Francisco Warns of Possible Closure

“Today, as we prepare for our 166th holiday season at 250 Post Street, we fear this may be our last ⁤because of the profound erosion of the​ city’s‌ current conditions,” wrote John Chachas, ​chairman of the department store Gump’s San ⁢Francisco.

Gump’s took out a full ⁤page ad in the ​Sunday edition of the San Francisco Chronicle to express their concerns about the​ “destructive San Francisco strategies” implemented by California governor ‍Gavin Newsom (D.),‌ San Francisco​ mayor London Breed‌ (D.), and the city’s Board of Supervisors.

Among the issues highlighted ‌in the ad were the⁣ city’s COVID-19 policies that discouraged office work, the decision to allow homeless people ‌to⁤ camp on the streets and openly ​use and distribute hard ⁤drugs, and the harassment faced by‍ members of the⁣ public.

“Such abject disregard for civilized conduct,” wrote Chachas, “makes San⁣ Francisco unlivable for its residents, unsafe for our employees, and ⁣unwelcoming ⁢to visitors from around the world.”

Businesses Closing and‍ Corporate⁣ Exodus

• Last month, the 127-year-old⁤ Anchor Brewing Company, the first craft brewery in the country,​ shut down.
• Other‌ businesses, including ​historic ones, have also closed ⁣their doors recently, citing crime⁣ and homelessness.
• In‍ May, Old ‌Navy announced⁢ the closure⁢ of its flagship store, and Nordstrom‍ has also shut down stores, resulting⁢ in a loss of nearly ⁤380 jobs in the city.
• Crime has forced companies like ​Uber, Airbnb, and Salesforce to abandon ⁢their ⁤office⁣ space.

As a result, nearly one-third of the city’s office ‌space‍ sits empty,‌ according ⁤to the⁢ San⁢ Francisco Chronicle.

Rising Crime and its ⁣Impact

• Homicides in the ‌city increased about 40 percent from⁢ 2020 to 2022.
• Fentanyl deaths have skyrocketed, contributing to the crime ⁣wave.
• The Biden administration recently instructed employees at the Speaker Nancy Pelosi Federal Building to work ⁢from home due to crime in the⁢ area.