San Francisco Centre, once the city’s busiest shopping mall, is becoming almost completely empty as another major retailer — H&M — confirms it will shut down its stores there.
H&M to Leave San Francisco Centre in January
H&M announced that it received a notice to vacate the mall and will officially close its San Francisco Centre location in January 2026. The notice came after the mall’s new owners told tenants to leave following a foreclosure auction last month.
In a statement, H&M said it remains committed to San Francisco and pointed to its newly opened store at Stonestown Galleria on November 20, 2025.
Mall Owners Clearing Out Tenants After Foreclosure
Retail experts say the mall’s new owners — a group of lenders who previously held the property’s debt — seem to be clearing the building to reduce expenses like security and utilities. A full mall shutdown has not been officially confirmed, but the widespread tenant removals strongly suggest that possibility.
The mall’s management company, JLL, has not responded to requests for comment.
One of the Last Major Stores to Go
H&M was one of the last large retailers operating in the 1.5 million-square-foot mall. It ran three stores inside the center: the main H&M, H&M Kids, and H&M Man. The company says it will try to move employees to other nearby stores in cities including Daly City, Emeryville, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and San Jose.
H&M previously closed its Union Square store in 2021 during the pandemic.
More Stores Expected to Close
H&M isn’t the only retailer leaving. Other upcoming closures include:
- Ecco Shoes
- Samsonite
- Shake Shack
This leaves Panda Express as the only restaurant still operating in the mall, and it has not yet said whether it will remain open.
Mall Being Marketed for Future Redevelopment
The nearly empty mall is now being pitched as a redevelopment project and is currently listed for sale by CBRE. But real estate experts warn that transforming the massive property could be extremely expensive and challenging.
Conclusion
The closure of H&M marks another major blow for San Francisco Centre, which has rapidly emptied out following its foreclosure. As more retailers shut their doors and the mall is quietly cleared, the future of the once-iconic shopping destination remains uncertain. Whether redevelopment will revive the property or lead to a complete transformation, only time will tell.
