San Francisco’s largest mall continues its stunning collapse as Shake Shack becomes the latest casualty in a city decimated by progressive policies that drove businesses away and left once-thriving commercial centers as ghost towns.
Story Snapshot
- Shake Shack permanently closes Westfield San Francisco Centre location on December 14, 2025
- Mall lost 46% of stores between 2020-2023, including anchor tenants Nordstrom and Bloomingdale’s
- New owners forced all tenants to vacate after foreclosure auction following previous owners’ default
- 26 Shake Shack employees affected as six other dining establishments recently fled the property
Forced Closure Highlights San Francisco’s Business Exodus
Shake Shack filed notice with state labor officials on November 25, 2025, announcing the permanent closure of its Westfield San Francisco Centre location on December 14. The closure affects 26 employees who will be offered transfers to other Bay Area locations.
New ownership changes have forced all existing tenants to vacate the premises immediately, with lease agreements declared “extinguished” by the property management’s legal counsel, according to the San Francisco Business Times.
The mall’s devastating decline represents a textbook case of how liberal policies destroy business environments. What was once San Francisco’s premier shopping destination has become a symbol of urban decay under progressive leadership that prioritized ideology over economic reality.
Another restaurant in beleaguered San Francisco mall closing https://t.co/2HH8VeuLLq
— FOX Business (@FoxBusiness) December 8, 2025
Foreclosure Reveals Depth of Commercial Real Estate Crisis
DBJPM 2016-SFC Emporium assumed control of the property following a November 12, 2025, foreclosure auction.
The previous operators, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield and Brookfield Properties, defaulted on their loan and abandoned the site in 2023.
This corporate retreat demonstrates how even major international real estate companies couldn’t sustain operations in San Francisco’s hostile business climate created by years of misguided municipal policies.
The foreclosure auction represents more than a simple ownership change—it’s evidence of systemic failure. When established global property developers walk away from prime real estate, it signals fundamental problems with the city’s approach to business retention and public safety.
Anchor Tenant Departures Seal Mall’s Fate
Between 2020 and 2023, the Westfield San Francisco Centre lost 46% of its retail stores. Major anchor tenants Nordstrom and Bloomingdale’s both fled, with Nordstrom closing both downtown locations in 2023 and Bloomingdale’s departing earlier this year.
These anchor departures created a death spiral, as foot traffic plummeted and remaining retailers became economically unviable.
At least six dining establishments have abandoned the mall in recent months, including Jamba Juice, Izzy & Wooks sandwich shop, and Mija Cochinita taco shop.
This restaurant exodus reflects broader concerns about safety, crime, and the overall deterioration of downtown San Francisco that drove away both businesses and customers who once supported the local economy.
