For decades, San Francisco's iconic shopping hub, the SF Centre, has been a staple of the city's retail landscape. However, its doors have now permanently closed, leaving behind a legacy of memories and emotions.
As locals and longtime residents gathered outside the mall on Friday evening, they couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia wash over them. For many, including Theresa Benitez, who has fond memories of working part-time in college at the mall, it was more than just a place of commerce – it was a community gathering space.
"It's just sad to see a part of the history of the city just ending a chapter," said Benitez, her voice laced with emotion. "I met so many friends here, and a lot of memories working here."
The mall's decline is attributed to years of slowing business, as well as its recent sale at a foreclosure auction, which led to the cancellation of remaining tenant leases. San Francisco residents, including Sade Kellogg and Ron Coetzee, expressed their dismay over the mall's downfall.
"It's sad to see such a great place," said Kellogg, her eyes gazing wistfully at the once-thriving food court. "We used to come out here and hang out with our friends. The full court had all the greatest food."
Kellogg's sentiments are echoed by many who have grown up in the city, recalling afternoons spent lounging in the mall's courtyard or socializing with friends.
"It's really sad honestly this mall used to be so alive and prosperous and it's been in such a decline for a long time," said Coetzee.
As the news of the mall's closure spreads, a social media post calling for an impromptu celebration on Sunday has garnered attention. Antwan Shelbua, who initiated the call to action, hopes that his request will allow people to come together and create a lasting memory of the once-beloved shopping hub.
"Who's to say that we can't just kind of have fun and just have our last memory somewhere where a lot of people have met a lot of people and some very good memories?" Shelbua asked, urging those to show up respectfully and play music.
Mayor Daniel Lurie has hinted at the possibility of new developments in the coming months, stating that "the market is going to dictate who comes in there."
As San Francisco continues to evolve, it remains to be seen what the future holds for this iconic shopping mall.
As locals and longtime residents gathered outside the mall on Friday evening, they couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia wash over them. For many, including Theresa Benitez, who has fond memories of working part-time in college at the mall, it was more than just a place of commerce – it was a community gathering space.
"It's just sad to see a part of the history of the city just ending a chapter," said Benitez, her voice laced with emotion. "I met so many friends here, and a lot of memories working here."
The mall's decline is attributed to years of slowing business, as well as its recent sale at a foreclosure auction, which led to the cancellation of remaining tenant leases. San Francisco residents, including Sade Kellogg and Ron Coetzee, expressed their dismay over the mall's downfall.
"It's sad to see such a great place," said Kellogg, her eyes gazing wistfully at the once-thriving food court. "We used to come out here and hang out with our friends. The full court had all the greatest food."
Kellogg's sentiments are echoed by many who have grown up in the city, recalling afternoons spent lounging in the mall's courtyard or socializing with friends.
"It's really sad honestly this mall used to be so alive and prosperous and it's been in such a decline for a long time," said Coetzee.
As the news of the mall's closure spreads, a social media post calling for an impromptu celebration on Sunday has garnered attention. Antwan Shelbua, who initiated the call to action, hopes that his request will allow people to come together and create a lasting memory of the once-beloved shopping hub.
"Who's to say that we can't just kind of have fun and just have our last memory somewhere where a lot of people have met a lot of people and some very good memories?" Shelbua asked, urging those to show up respectfully and play music.
Mayor Daniel Lurie has hinted at the possibility of new developments in the coming months, stating that "the market is going to dictate who comes in there."
As San Francisco continues to evolve, it remains to be seen what the future holds for this iconic shopping mall.
. I remember my mum taking me there when I was a kid and we'd spend hours just browsing through all the stores. It's crazy how much nostalgia comes flooding back just reading about it. The thought of the food court being empty and quiet is just heartbreaking 
. I hope Antwan's idea for an impromptu celebration on Sunday actually happens, that would be such a nice way to say goodbye to a piece of our history 
.
- who else remembers the good ol' days of Orange Julius & Sbarro's? 
I hope whoever decides to revamp the area brings back some of those memories, but also brings in new life and energy to the space 
. i mean, i've lived in sf my whole life and sf centre was like a second home to me. it's not just about the shopping or the food (although, let's be real, the food court was iconic), it was the memories we made there as friends. now, instead of seeing it closed down, we're all gonna have to get used to the idea that it's just... gone 
. and yeah, i guess the city's got some plans to revamp it or whatever, but it's not gonna be the same 
.
The SF Centre may be gone but its memory stays 
. It's a sad reminder that progress doesn't always mean preservation 
. We should cherish the moments we create & hold on to the memories, even as things change around us 
.
I think its pretty sad when places like SF Centre close down 
. Its been a part of San Francisco's history for decades and it'll be really hard to see that chapter end 
. I do think its good that Antwan Shelbua wants to create one last memory there though 
.
I mean, who doesn't have fond memories of haggling over ridiculous prices with their aunties in a food court? The real question is... how's the mayor gonna fill 100k square feet of shopping space with something better than a Sbarro's and an Applebee's combo 
... San Francisco's lost one of its most iconic landmarks and it's just not the same without it 
... Now it'll just be a memory for me to look back on, which is kinda sad 
...
As a local, it's gonna be weird not having that place around anymore. All those memories of hanging out with friends and just chillin' in the food court are just...gone 
. Now, it's just a memory of what used to be. It's okay that it closed, but it's sad that people have such strong emotions about it 
Everyone just got along so well back then... now it's just a empty space 
just thinking about sf centre closing is giving me all the feels 
?
I remember when SF Centre was like, THE place to be back in the day. You'd hang out with friends, catch a movie, grab some grub... it was just one big happy fam 
.
to show how the mall's popularity decreased over time
it's crazy how it went from being this bustling spot to just closing up shop 
anyway, i think it's awesome that antwan is trying to bring people together for one last celebration 
. Fingers crossed that new developments will bring something even better to the table 
.