{"id":28324,"date":"2023-09-08T13:20:35","date_gmt":"2023-09-08T20:20:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/?p=28324"},"modified":"2023-09-08T13:45:03","modified_gmt":"2023-09-08T20:45:03","slug":"exclusive-s-f-retail-giant-levis-renews-lease-on-market-street-despite-nearby-store-closures","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/2023\/09\/08\/exclusive-s-f-retail-giant-levis-renews-lease-on-market-street-despite-nearby-store-closures\/","title":{"rendered":"Exclusive: S.F. retail giant Levi\u2019s renews lease on Market Street despite nearby store closures"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfchronicle.com\/author\/roland-li\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Roland Li<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sep. 6, 2023 Updated: Sep. 7, 2023 2:26&nbsp;p.m. (SFChronicle.com)<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/dialog\/feed?app_id=137086563877087&amp;link=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sfchronicle.com%2Fsf%2Farticle%2Flevi-s-renews-lease-s-f-market-street-18351136.php%3Futm_campaign%3DCMS%2520Sharing%2520Tools%2520(Premium)%26utm_source%3Dfacebook.com%26utm_medium%3Dreferral&amp;name=Exclusive%3A%20S.F.%20retail%20giant%20Levi%E2%80%99s%20renews%20lease%20on%20Market%20Street%20despite%20nearby%20store%20closures&amp;description=The%20lease%20renewal%20is%20a%20sharp%20contrast%20to%20stores%20like%20Old%20Navy%20and%C2%A0Nordstrom%20shuttering...&amp;picture=https%3A%2F%2Fs.hdnux.com%2Fphotos%2F01%2F34%2F26%2F17%2F24208353%2F3%2FrawImage.jpg&amp;redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sfchronicle.com%2Fsf%2Farticle%2Flevi-s-renews-lease-s-f-market-street-18351136.php%3Futm_campaign%3DCMS%2520Sharing%2520Tools%2520(Premium)%26utm_source%3DUTMSOURCE%26utm_medium%3DUTMMEDIUM\" target=\"_blank\"><\/a><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sfchronicle.com%2Fsf%2Farticle%2Flevi-s-renews-lease-s-f-market-street-18351136.php%3Futm_campaign%3DCMS%2520Sharing%2520Tools%2520(Premium)%26utm_source%3Dt.co%26utm_medium%3Dreferral&amp;text=Exclusive%3A%20S.F.%20retail%20giant%20Levi%E2%80%99s%20renews%20lease%20on%20Market%20Street%20despite%20nearby%20store%20closures&amp;via=sfchronicle\" target=\"_blank\"><\/a><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"mailto:?subject=Your%20friend%20has%20shared%20a%20San%20Francisco%20Chronicle%20link%20with%20you%3A%20&amp;body=Exclusive%3A%20S.F.%20retail%20giant%20Levi%E2%80%99s%20renews%20lease%20on%20Market%20Street%20despite%20nearby%20store%20closures%0A%0Ahttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.sfchronicle.com%2Fsf%2Farticle%2Flevi-s-renews-lease-s-f-market-street-18351136.php%3Futm_campaign%3DCMS%2520Sharing%2520Tools%2520(Premium)%26utm_source%3Dshare-by-email%26utm_medium%3Demail%0A%0AThe%20lease%20renewal%20is%20a%20sharp%20contrast%20to%20stores%20like%20Old%20Navy%20and%C2%A0Nordstrom%20shuttering...%0A%0AThis%20message%20was%20sent%20via%20San%20Francisco%20Chronicle\" target=\"_blank\"><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\" id=\"1-image-24208353\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/s.hdnux.com\/photos\/01\/34\/26\/17\/24208353\/3\/1200x0.jpg\" alt=\"A customer walks through the Levi\u2019s Store on San Francisco\u2019s Market Street in 2019. While several large retailers in the area have recently shuttered, \u00a0Levi\u2019s has just renewed its lease.\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A customer walks through the Levi\u2019s Store on San Francisco\u2019s Market Street in 2019. While several large retailers in the area have recently shuttered, \u00a0Levi\u2019s has just renewed its lease.Gabrielle Lurie\/The Chronicle<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\" id=\"2-image-24208352\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/s.hdnux.com\/photos\/01\/34\/26\/17\/24208352\/3\/1200x0.jpg\" alt=\"Customers walk through Levi\u2019s flagship store in San Francisco in 2019. It is one of the remaining businesses on troubled Market Street.\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Levi Strauss &amp; Co. has renewed its lease at its longtime Market Street flagship store, despite&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfchronicle.com\/bayarea\/article\/old-navy-closing-san-francisco-18121369.php\">Old Navy<\/a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfchronicle.com\/sf\/article\/after-nordstrom-closures-s-f-stop-retail-exodus-18074794.php\">Nordstrom<\/a>&nbsp;shuttering on the same San Francisco block in the past two months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The jeans pioneer, founded in the city in 1853, has occupied the store at 815 Market St.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfchronicle.com\/business\/bottomline\/article\/Levi-s-moves-store-to-Market-Street-4699186.php\">for a decade,<\/a>&nbsp;and a spokesperson confirmed to the Chronicle that the lease was recently renewed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The commitment by Levi Strauss is a sharp contrast to the pandemic exodus of clothing retailers in the area, which include the departures of Gap, Marshalls and Uniqlo. The 22,000-square-foot Levi\u2019s store sits in a critical tourism hub steps away from the Powell Street cable car turnaround.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On Monday, Levi Strauss&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.levistrauss.com\/2023\/09\/04\/our-commitment-to-san-francisco\/\">said on its website<\/a>&nbsp;that it is \u201cmore committed than ever to be a positive force for change here in our hometown.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAs our city emerges from a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic and grapples with new challenges, LS&amp;Co. is reaffirming our ties to San Francisco \u2014 and we\u2019re taking action to demonstrate our commitment, with the help of our fellow community members,\u201d the company said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The company is also ramping up its local philanthropy with plans to give $500,000 in grants to San Francisco nonprofits over the next two years and creating volunteer programs for employees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/files.sfchronicle.com\/sfc-graphics-engineering\/2022\/sfnext\/SFNextlogo_final.png\" alt=\"SF Next logo\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sfchronicle.com\/projects\/2022\/fixing-san-francisco-problems\/sfnext-about-the-project\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">SFNext<\/a>&nbsp;is Chronicle coverage devoted to the city\u2019s most vexing problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>To become involved:<\/strong>&nbsp;Send feedback, ideas and suggestions to&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:sfnext@SFChronicle.com\">sfnext@SFChronicle.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The effort builds on Levi Strauss\u2019 participation in the Adopt-a-Block program, where employees are&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfchronicle.com\/sf\/article\/adopt-a-block-project-18287703.php\">cleaning and beautifying a troubled block<\/a>&nbsp;on Larkin Street in the Tenderloin. The company also&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfchronicle.com\/business\/article\/Levi-Strauss-renews-lease-for-entire-S-F-HQ-the-16272591.php\">renewed its headquarters office lease<\/a>&nbsp;at Levi\u2019s Plaza earlier in the pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThese efforts are important to bring joy to local communities and let them know others are supporting them,\u201d Alexis&nbsp;Bechtol, the company\u2019s director of community affairs, said in a statement. \u201cThey\u2019re also significant to our employees, who are able to give back to the city in meaningful ways and really feel the deep connection between&nbsp;LS&amp;Co. and San Francisco in action.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/s.hdnux.com\/photos\/01\/26\/15\/14\/23626031\/6\/ratio3x2_640.jpg\" alt=\"SF Next calendar logo depicts a diverse group of people interacting with a billboard-sized calendar\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Get Involved calendar<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Search for public meetings on top San Francisco issues so you can add your voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sfchronicle.com\/projects\/san-francisco-meetings-calendar\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Calendar<\/a>&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/forms\/d\/e\/1FAIpQLScB1kAjkYHjp5qwU4Wh5Ap0tYl0__-sUys5Djaq9ZXM-DQi4g\/viewform\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Submit an event<\/a>&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sfchronicle.com\/projects\/2022\/fixing-san-francisco-problems\/sfnext-about-the-project\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">More coverage<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to store closures and a drop in foot traffic, the Powell Street retail area was roiled by the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfchronicle.com\/sf\/article\/banko-brown-walgreens-shooting-video-documents-18099880.php\">fatal shooting of Banko Brown<\/a>&nbsp;outside a Walgreens in April. District Attorney Brooke Jenkins decided not to file charges against Walgreens security guard Michael Earl-Wayne Anthony, who shot Brown, according to security footage, triggering protests and a wrongful death lawsuit from Brown\u2019s family. The Walgreens, which is next to the Levi\u2019s store, temporarily closed but has since reopened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The fate of the massive San Francisco Centre mall on the same block is also in limbo as owners Westfield and Brookfield transfer control of the property after stopping mortgage payments. The city is&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfchronicle.com\/sf\/article\/sf-mayor-breed-westfield-stadium-downtown-18307541.php\">studying the idea<\/a>&nbsp;of turning the mall into a soccer stadium, but it doesn\u2019t own the mall, and such a plan would be costly and require numerous city approvals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Reach Roland Li: roland.li@sfchronicle.com; Twitter: @rolandlisf<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sfchronicle.com\/author\/roland-li\/\" target=\"_blank\"><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Written By <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sfchronicle.com\/author\/roland-li\/\" target=\"_blank\">Roland Li<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/rolandlisf\"><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Roland Li covers commercial real estate for the business desk, focusing on the Bay Area office and retail sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He was previously a reporter at San Francisco Business Times, where he won one award from the California News Publishers Association and three from the National Association of Real Estate Editors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He is the author of \u201cGood Luck Have Fun: The Rise of eSports,&#8221; a 2016 book on the history of the competitive video game industry. Before moving to the Bay Area in 2015, he studied and worked in New York. He freelanced for the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times and other local publications. His hobbies include swimming and urban photography.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfchronicle.com\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sfchronicle.com\/img\/logos\/black\/logo.svg\" alt=\"San Francisco Chronicle Homepage - Site Logo\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sfchronicle.com\/img\/core\/hearst_newspapers_logo.svg\" alt=\"HEARST newspapers logo\">\u00a92023 Hearst Communications, Inc.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Roland Li Sep. 6, 2023 Updated: Sep. 7, 2023 2:26&nbsp;p.m. (SFChronicle.com) Levi Strauss &amp; Co. has renewed its lease at its longtime Market Street flagship store, despite&nbsp;Old Navy&nbsp;and&nbsp;Nordstrom&nbsp;shuttering on the same San Francisco block in the past two months. The jeans pioneer, founded in the city in 1853, has occupied&#8230; <a class=\"continue-reading-link\" href=\"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/2023\/09\/08\/exclusive-s-f-retail-giant-levis-renews-lease-on-market-street-despite-nearby-store-closures\/\"> Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr; <\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[1035,1036],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28324"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28324"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28324\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28326,"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28324\/revisions\/28326"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28324"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28324"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28324"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}