Nordstrom is coming back to San Francisco — but not how you remember it

San Francisco Chronicle​

5 hours ago

The move comes nearly two years after the retailer's dramatic departure from downtown San Francisco, where it closed both its flagship store at Westfield Mall and a nearby Nordstrom Rack in 2023.
Unlike its full-scale department stores, the upcoming 1,648-square-foot Nordstrom Local, set to open at 1919 Fillmore St., will not carry traditional retail inventory. Instead, it will function as a neighborhood hub offering online order pickups, returns, tailoring and personal styling appointments.
The space will feature eight dressing rooms, a styling suite, and customer amenities including same-day delivery — and even a glass of wine or beer during visits.
'We're welcoming Nordstrom back,' said Planning Commission President Lydia So during the hearing. 'And we're welcoming whoever else wants to come back — or those who never considered coming here because things are hard.'
After months of debate and outreach, the commission approved the proposal in a 5–2 vote.
Still, the decision was not without controversy.
Several residents and small business owners voiced concern that the store would worsen traffic congestion and fail to align with the neighborhood's character.
'This will increase traffic and hurt small businesses,' wrote Sharon Esker, who has lived in the neighborhood since 1969. 'It is not a retail store and I would like a better alternative to this space.'
Neighbor Ditka Reiner criticized the landlord's decision to lease to a national retailer, noting that 'chain stores typically contribute to rising rents that push out small, local, independent businesses that are the backbone of a city.'
The storefront, previously home to Minted, has been vacant since the early days of the pandemic and has become a symbol of the city's broader commercial vacancy crisis.
But support for the project also came from a number of Fillmore Street merchants.
'Nordstrom has long been a responsible and engaged member of San Francisco's business landscape,' wrote Molly Leonetti, president of local boutique Clare V. 'Their presence will not only bring new energy to Fillmore Street but also support the success of neighboring businesses, including ours.'
Andrew Graham, vice president of sales at San Francisco-based Marine Layer, agreed.
'Their convenient services, from order pickups to alterations, will attract customers who are likely to explore and shop at nearby stores, further strengthening the local economy,' he wrote.
The debate around Nordstrom's return underscores ongoing tensions in San Francisco's recovery, between attracting commercial tenants to fill empty storefronts and preserving the unique character of neighborhood retail corridors.