Popular chain with 350 locations forced to close store doors after 30 years as heartbreaking pictures show barren aisles

A POPULAR chain with 350 locations nationwide has been forced to close its flagship store after over 30 years.

The Nordstrom store in San Francisco Centre Mall officially closed its doors for good on Sunday.

Known for its range of high-end shoes, the store's future was in dire straits as pictures showed empty display cases and naked mannequins stacked together.

Since the Covid-19 pandemic, many tech workers were sent home to work and several of them never returned.

Foot traffic in stores went down significantly and stores in and around San Francisco have closed down, driving the retail vacancy rate in the city at 6 percent in the first quarter of 2023.

This is the highest rate in the city since 2006, according to Cushman & Wakefield, a commercial real estate services firm.

Jamie Nordstrom, the company's chief stores officer announced the store's closure saying, "the dynamics of the downtown San Francisco market have changed dramatically over the past several years, impacting customer foot traffic to our stores and our ability to operate successfully."

Local ABC affiliate KABC spoke to an employee, who wanted to remain anonymous, about some of the factors that led to the store's closure - most notably crime.

"It's half of the mall that is no longer going to be here. I do think it might change the businesses. You can already see it. It's unfortunate," said the employee.

"It is definitely partially due to the crime in the area. Covid had a big impact," he added.

Sarah Dennis Phillips, the executive director of the Office of Economic & Workforce Development said that the way people shop has also become a factor.

"What we are seeing out there is that younger people particularly when they come to the city they want to see new concepts," said Dennis Phillips.

"They want to see pop-ups and exciting things that are here for a short period of time."

There are store pop-ups being planned in the area but the city is also creating a plan for the mall.

"We are hoping that in the short term, we can bring those vendors down to the ground floor where they have visibility and access to the public and that we keep visitation to that mall," said Dennis Phillips.

"Over the long term, we work to build those exciting businesses and some exciting new concepts for what may happen there."

One of these plans includes a soccer stadium, however, the plan is still in the early preliminary stages, said San Francisco Mayor London Breed.

"It's not just a plan for a soccer stadium. It's showing people what's possible. We are starting to think about what is downtown in light of the challenges around the retail. So, not only could there be a soccer stadium that could be transformative," said Breed.

"Meaning soccer matches, FIFA, and a soccer tournament but concerts."

The office of the mayor also confirmed that there are plans to change laws, reform taxes to attract more business to the area, and make streets both cleaner and safer.

Shortly before Nordstrom closed for good, a new Ikea store opened in the area, bringing excitement downtown.

"Ikea opening I think it's a game changer," said Mayor Breed.