San Francisco Centre set to close January 26, 2026, as BART blocks direct Powell access
A downtown retail landmark approaches shutdown
San Francisco Centre, the city’s largest enclosed mall near Fifth and Market streets, is expected to close permanently on January 26, 2026, capping a multi-year contraction that accelerated after the pandemic reshaped downtown foot traffic and retail economics.
The imminent closure follows a rapid reduction in operating tenants. By the end of 2025, fewer than 20 stores were still open in a complex that once held nearly 200. The mall’s dining options have also fully wound down, leaving the interior increasingly used as pass-through space rather than a shopping destination.
BART access changes tighten connections to the property
As the mall nears its final days, the transit connection that long helped feed customer traffic is also changing. BART has sealed the Powell Street Station entrance that opens directly into the mall, cutting off a direct indoor route between the station and the shopping center. Riders can still reach Powell Street Station through the system’s other street-level entrances in the surrounding area.
The entrance closure adds another constraint to an already struggling site, particularly for commuters and visitors who previously relied on the mall as an all-weather link between transit and Market Street destinations.
Anchor departures preceded the final contraction
The mall’s decline has been marked by the loss of its major anchors. Nordstrom departed in 2023, and Bloomingdale’s exited in 2025, removing the primary high-volume retailers that traditionally stabilize large urban malls. As anchors left, smaller shops and restaurants increasingly faced declining customer counts and shorter operating horizons.
Financial control shifted in late 2025
The property’s operating outlook changed further in late 2025, when lenders took control of the mall’s debt through an entity tied to the San Francisco Centre financing structure. After that transition, remaining tenants faced lease terminations and a final wave of closures, accelerating the move toward a full shutdown.
What happens next remains unresolved
The future of the large, centrally located complex remains uncertain. Any redevelopment would need to address the scale of the building, the cost of repositioning it for new uses, and the broader context of downtown San Francisco’s recovery efforts. For now, the scheduled closure date marks a defined endpoint for a mall that once served as a major retail and transit-adjacent hub in the city’s core.
Expected closure date: January 26, 2026
Transit change: Powell Street Station entrance into the mall has been sealed
Key departures: Nordstrom (2023) and Bloomingdale’s (2025)
With anchors gone and most storefronts dark, the remaining activity has increasingly shifted from shopping to circulation through the building.