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San Francisco Chronicle
05-05-2025
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco's downtown malls are empty. But there's one thing keeping them alive
It's lunch hour in downtown San Francisco. The food court at the troubled San Francisco Centre mall is nearly deserted. Slices of pizza wilt under heat lamps, and some restaurants have their shades rolled down. Outside on Fifth Street, half a dozen men are loading sacks of grease-spattered food onto mopeds and e-bikes, and preparing to haul them across town. They belong to a burgeoning gig work ecosystem that's breathing life into otherwise decrepit downtown shopping malls and their dozens of fast-casual restaurants. 'We couldn't survive without them,' Manuel Ramirez, who operates a burger shop and taqueria in San Francisco Centre, said of DoorDash and Uber Eats. But those apps, in turn, rely on a scrappy workforce of independent contractors who are mostly recent immigrants, gliding through the city on two wheels for what amounts to as little as $8 an hour, including the agonizing waits between orders, by the workers' calculations. Hailing mostly from Nepal, but also Venezuela and Morocco, this small army of couriers awaits their next orders huddled under an alcove outside the former Westfield mall or idled alongside the nearby Metreon shopping center. Clad in puffer jackets and motorcycle helmets they never seem to remove, they seamlessly enter the squall of traffic, dodging Muni buses and muscling cyclists out of bike lanes. They log up to 150 miles a day on their rented, moped-style e-bikes — cheaper than cars, and no driver's license necessary — laden with sushi or burritos in insulated boxes. With the downtown recovery still jagged and office occupancy at a nadir, these delivery orders are a lifeline to restaurant operators like Ramirez. Foot traffic to Izzy and Wooks, his Filipino-inspired burger spot, and Mija Cochinita, his Yucatan-style taqueria, cratered after the departure of Bloomingdale's, the mall's anchor tenant. Now delivery makes up more than a third of his business, though he needs to account for the over 25% fee the platforms charge him. What are fast becoming ghost malls are naturally transforming into something closer to ghost kitchens — centrally located, takeout focused restaurants. At Shake Shack, for instance, bags of burgers and fries piled up at the shop's pickup window during a recent lunch rush, though few, if any customers lined up at the electronic ordering kiosks. And at Chipotle inside the Metreon, online orders now make up about half the sales, said the store's manager, Marvin Ulloa, as he handed off two packages to waiting delivery-app couriers. The value that delivery workers provide comes at personal cost. That's what Manvir Damai was learning as he sat parked outside San Francisco Centre on a Friday afternoon. All around him, other couriers were walking in and out of the mall, gripping crinkly fast food bags and nervously checking their phones. Damai also had his eyes glued to his phone screen, scrutinizing an order for Wetzel's Pretzels. He was already seven minutes late, and in danger of incurring a violation for missing DoorDash's estimated time of arrival. If he accumulates six in a span of 100 deliveries, the company might deactivate his account and pull the plug on his only source of income. 'I'm still figuring out how this works,' Damai said in Hindi, referring to the app that funds his apartment on Geary Street and enables him to send money to a wife and four children in Nepal. In some senses, workers like Damai are the evolutionary descendants of the bike messengers who zipped through SoMa and the Financial District during the first dot-com boom of the 1990s, sweating in cargo shorts as they hauled documents to corporate offices. DoorDash, the largest delivery platform, said 76% of San Francisco deliveries were made on two wheels, which they touted for easing congestion in urban environments. Yet, the rise of food delivery apps has given it new dimensions in a society that expects prompt service. When UC Irvine Law Professor Veena Dubal looks at the moped workforce in San Francisco, she sees exploitation on multiple fronts. 'In what we think of as traditional employment, it would be the job of the company' to provide equipment, safe working conditions and a living wage, Dubal said. She noted that food delivery platforms have bypassed that responsibility by establishing themselves as 'network companies' under California law, meaning they supply the software to facilitate the outsourcing, but don't directly employ the workers. Although voter-approved Proposition 22 guarantees 120% of local minimum wage for every hour that a delivery person spends en route, it does not count the time spent waiting. The San Francisco food delivery market is also particularly competitive. So many people had already created DoorDash delivery accounts in downtown San Francisco and Oakland that, as of late April, some ZIP codes were at capacity. The app promised to send an email notification when space opened for new dashers. (A representative for DoorDash did not provide a figure for its number of Bay Area dashers or its capacity.) A fair number of Bay Area Doordashers treat the platform more as a side hustle, to make extra money or get exercise if they are making deliveries on a bicycle. One casual gig worker who spoke with the Chronicle said he delivers for both DoorDash and UberEats, and concentrates narrowly on grocery orders from Safeway or Target that maximize his earnings. The worker said that since he speaks English, knows how to navigate store aisles to quickly find items and can follow specific directions from customers, he's able to net $30 from a job that takes about 15 minutes — roughly quadruple the amount he would make from delivering fast food. The workers who congregate at San Francisco Centre and Metreon don't have that degree of flexibility. Faced with language barriers, they focus mostly on lower-level fast food orders that are more straightforward, but earn less money. Many, like Damai, treat the gig as a full-time job, routinely clocking 12-hour days to make between $100 and $150. A portion goes toward bike rental, which costs about $330 a month. Slow days are a torment. Instead of zig-zagging along busy roads, a delivery courier might spend hours posted outside the malls, waiting for their phone to buzz. Mehdi Lamari, a recent immigrant from Morocco, was doing just that on a rainy Wednesday. Shaking his head wearily, he flashed the display screen on his phone, with a graph that showed his weekly earnings. On Monday he worked nine hours for $72.28. On Tuesday, he drew $53.29. 'This is not like a real job,' Lamari said. Then there are the brusque or high-maintenance customers, who might snatch food through a door jamb, wander away from a pickup spot or forget to leave the pin number for their apartment buildings. Damai recalled times when someone became incensed that an order was wrong, and dispatched him to fix it. He felt like he couldn't say no. 'I'll drive two or three miles to deliver something worth $5,' he said, convinced that if he rejects any job the app will penalize him. One person who has keenly observed the lives and struggles of delivery-app couriers is Peter Chu, who did gig work for DoorDash as a community college student in Woodland (Yolo County). He realized he could make more profit on a different side of the business. A couple of years ago, Chu and a friend, Benda Zhu, in Davis launched a rental business specializing in electric bikes with cargo racks for food delivery. They expanded HMP bikes to a warehouse in South of Market a few months ago. Located a few blocks from the Metreon and Westfield, it's an anchor point for the growing labor force. Many couriers rent from HMP, at rates ranging from $79 a week to $1,000 for a three-month lease. They also come to the warehouse to fix punctured tires or make other repairs. To reach their largely Nepalese clientele, HMP hired an assistant, Mike Sherpa, who speaks multiple Himalayan languages. When e-bikes are stolen — as they are frequently in downtown San Francisco — Chu might offer the rider a temporary replacement, though if the bike isn't recovered in a week, the renter is responsible for 50% of the loss. This catch, really an outsourcing of risk, strikes Dubal, the law professor, as unsettling. She compares HMP to other businesses that lease cars to ride-hail drivers, entrenching a system of frenetic, underpaid work. 'They are profiting off the desperation of immigrants,' she said of HMP — though Chu instead likened HMP to a business during a gold rush selling shovels. Nonetheless, Dubal went on, 'I don't think they are the primary or only exploiter here. All fingers point towards DoorDash.' Representatives of DoorDash pushed back, insisting that Dashers 'earn what they want, on their own terms' and citing the wage provision in Prop 22. 'Calling that exploitation isn't just wrong, but it's out of touch and offensive,' company spokesperson Julian Crowley said in a statement. A spokesperson for Uber Eats said he could not comment without verifying that the workers 'actually use the Uber Eats platform.' Some delivery workers who spoke to the Chronicle conceded they like the go-it-alone aspect of being an independent contractor. All the same, they were quick to acknowledge the downsides. Work is unpredictable, compensation can swing wildly and the job comes with few protections. Theft is a perennial fear for Damai, who knows that if he leaves his bike unattended with food on it, for as little as two minutes, he'll return to find everything gone. At night he locks it up outside his apartment on Geary Street, hoping for the best. After all, the machine generates his income. It pays the rent, provides a little to send back home and helps Damai live on the margins of a city he can't afford, even as he helps drive its economic recovery.
USA Today
25-04-2025
- Business
- USA Today
National Pretzel Day: How to get deals, freebies at Auntie Anne's, Wetzel's Pretzels
National Pretzel Day: How to get deals, freebies at Auntie Anne's, Wetzel's Pretzels Show Caption Hide Caption How to make wiener schnitzel with chicken Learn a chicken schnitzel recipe featuring a pretzel breading. Problem Solved If life is like a pretzel – full of twists and turns – April 26 marks a special day on the calendar: National Pretzel Day. Pretzels predate many other favorite snacks such as potato chips and crackers, each of which cropped up before the Civil War. But pretzels date back to before the Crusades, serving as a Catholic Church-approved Lenten food in the 7th century, according to As German immigrants came to the U.S., pretzels became a staple here in the early 1700s. More recently, Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell declared April 26 as 'National Pretzel Day' in 2003 to recognize the pretzel's historic importance, note the National Day Calendar site. One of the first known commercial pretzel bakeries was founded in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania in 1861, according to Pennsylvania's importance to pretzels has knot lessened. About 20 miles from the site of the original Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery in Pennsylvania, Uncle Jerry's Pretzels, founded in 1989, produces handmade small-batch sourdough pretzels "using all-natural ingredients – just flour, water, yeast, and salt – resulting in a hearty, wholesome snack," said Misty Skolnick, who co-owns the business with her father, Jerry, in an email statement. "Our pretzels don't contain any added sugars, oils, or preservatives," she said. "Baked to perfection and lightly coated with salt, our pretzels offer a deliciously crisp texture that has kept customers coming back for decades." Uncle Jerry's Pretzels has a National Pretzel Day deal for April 26: Get 20% off on the company website using the coupon code USATODAY (deal cannot be combined with any other offer). Tariffs and pretzels: Trade measures could lead to another twist in the handmade pretzel business – higher costs More National Pretzel Day freebies, deals and specials Auntie Anne's free pretzel on National Pretzel Day Pretzel chain Auntie Anne's, founded in 1988, is giving out free Original or Cinnamon Sugar Pretzels in stores on April 26 for National Pretzel Day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. local time. Get the offer in the Auntie Anne's Rewards App. Limit one per person; not valid with any other offer, reward or third-party delivery. Ben's Soft Pretzels' free pretzel deal Go into one of the more than 150 Ben's Soft Pretzels locations on April 26 and make a donation to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation and you will get a free Original Jumbo Pretzel. All proceeds made on National Pretzel Day will be donated to the organization, founded after Sept. 11, 2001, to help Gold Star and first responder families. Stellar Snacks' 20% off deal for National Pretzel Day Pretzels are also a family affair at Stellar Snacks in Carson City, Nevada, founded by mother and daughter team of Elisabeth and Gina Galvin, who were recently named to the Inc. Female Founders 500 list of top entrepreneurs. The company's products can be found in stores such as Sprouts and The Fresh Market – and on Southwest Airlines – but Stellar Snacks also ships direct to consumers and can be found on Stellar Snacks opened a new plant in Louisville, Kentucky in late 2024 and just launched a new gluten-free line of snacks including Sea Salt Pretzel Thins. 'At Stellar, pretzel-making is an art form – thoughtful, imaginative, and uncompromising," Gina Galvin said in a statement. "We bake each pretzel from scratch in our own bakery so every bite is crunchy and seasoned to perfection. These are the most state-of-the-art pretzels you'll ever taste (truly)." For National Pretzel Day, you can get 20% off on on April 26 with code PRETZELDAY20. Pretzelmaker Pretzelmaker has a National Pretzel Day in-store freebie for customers on April 26: a free small order of Original Pretzel Bites, Salted or Unsalted, at participating locations across the U.S. Also, if you sign up for Pretzelmaker's Rewards app by 11:59 p.m. on April 26, you can get $5 off your order of $20 more starting April 27. The offer is good for 14 days and can be redeemed in-store or online. Philly Pretzel Factory The Philly-style pretzel franchise, with more than 150 locations, is giving away one free pretzel to every customer on April 26, no purchase necessary. Stores will also be handing out limited-edition 'I Got My Pretzel' stickers. It's the company's 18th consecutive year celebrating National Pretzel Day with a giveaway. Also, members of the Pretzel Rewards loyalty program earn double points on any purchase on April 26. To join, download the Philly Pretzel Factory app; new members get an offer for five free pretzels just for signing up. Wetzel's Pretzels For National Pretzel Day, which Wetzel's Pretzels calls "National Wetzel Day," on April 26 the California-headquartered chain is giving away one free Original Pretzel per person in stores from 3 p.m. to closing time (no purchase necessary). Mike Snider is a reporter on USA TODAY's Trending team. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, X and email him at mikegsnider & @ & @mikesnider & msnider@
Newsweek
25-04-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
National Pretzel Day 2025: How to Get Free Auntie Anne's, Wetzel's and More
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. On Saturday April 26, pretzel fans nationwide will have reason to celebrate: National Pretzel Day returns with a range of promotions from major chains including Auntie Anne's, Wetzel's Pretzels and Philly Pretzel Factory. The food holiday is offering an array of freebies and deals on pretzels. Offers vary by location and brand, with some requiring apps or membership programs, while others provide walk-in deals with no strings attached. A stock image shows three homemade Bavarian soft pretzels with dip. Several pretzel retailers are offering freebies and deals for National Pretzel Day on April 26, 2025. A stock image shows three homemade Bavarian soft pretzels with dip. Several pretzel retailers are offering freebies and deals for National Pretzel Day on April 26, 2025. Getty Images/bhofack2 Chains Offering Free or Discounted Pretzels Several national and regional chains are offering promotions on April 26: Auntie Anne's : Members of the Auntie Anne's Rewards program can receive a free Original or Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel on April 26, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m, according to a social media post from the seller. No purchase is required, but the offer must be redeemed in-app. Only at participating locations. : Members of the Auntie Anne's Rewards program can receive a free Original or Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel on April 26, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m, according to a social media post from the seller. No purchase is required, but the offer must be redeemed in-app. Only at participating locations. Wetzel's Pretzels : Customers who visit a Wetzel's location between 3 p.m. and close on Saturday will receive a free Original Pretzel with no purchase necessary. Until April 25, Wetzel's offered a buy-one-get-one promotion when foodies use the code HOMERUN at checkout in store or online. : Customers who visit a Wetzel's location between 3 p.m. and close on Saturday will receive a free Original Pretzel with no purchase necessary. Until April 25, Wetzel's offered a buy-one-get-one promotion when foodies use the code HOMERUN at checkout in store or online. Philly Pretzel Factory : The chain is offering one free pretzel per customer on April 26, as well as double points for rewards members. Free stickers are also available at participating locations, while supplies last. : The chain is offering one free pretzel per customer on April 26, as well as double points for rewards members. Free stickers are also available at participating locations, while supplies last. Ben's Soft Pretzels: A social media post from the chain indicates that customers who make a donation to nonprofit organization Tunnel to Towers Foundation, which supports American first responders and veterans, will receive a free Original Jumbo Pretzel. When Was National Pretzel Day Created? National Pretzel Day was officially recognized in the United States in 2003 when Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell declared April 26 as a day to honor the snack food's significance to the state. Rendell's proclamation acknowledged Pennsylvania's deep roots in pretzel baking, which date back to the 18th century, and its role in producing the majority of the pretzels consumed in the U.S. today. According to Pennsylvania makes 80 percent of America's pretzels. Who Invented the Pretzel? The origins of the pretzel are debated, but legend traces it back to European monks as early as the 6th or 7th century. One widely circulated story suggests that monks created pretzels as a reward for children who learned their prayers, with the dough's twisted shape meant to resemble arms crossed in prayer. This story, though popular, is likely more myth than fact. The earliest documented evidence of pretzels may come from a 12th-century illustration in the Hortus deliciarum, a manuscript compiled in Alsace (then part of the Holy Roman Empire, now in northeastern France), which depicts pretzels in religious settings. The treat spread across Europe and eventually made its way to the U.S. with German immigrants, particularly the Pennsylvania Dutch, who helped popularize the hard pretzel. According to a post from pretzels became a commercial success in the 19th century when Julius Sturgis established the first pretzel bakery in Pennsylvania in 1861.
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
After Wetzel's Pretzels and Starbucks, what else is coming to Barton Creek Square?
Barton Creek Square has long been a premier shopping destination in the Austin area. And despite turbulence in the shopping center space, the mall continues to add new stores. From retail classics to local food vendors, Barton Creek Square is filling its spaces. Recently, the mall announced six new offerings, ranging from a salty staple to a new arcade. Here's everything you need to know about the six new stores and other recent additions. Purificación García describes itself as a Spanish design store specializing in accessories, womenswear, and menswear is a Chinese variety store chain that specializes in Japanese household and consumer goods including cosmetics, stationery, toys, and kitchenware. Pastissimo serves made-to-order pasta through a five-step ordering process, allowing customers to choose from a variety of pasta, sauces, and proteins to personalize their dishes. Claw & Fun features a large collection of claw machines filled with prizes like plush toys and trendy collectibles. Wetzel's Pretzels, a shopping center staple, offers hand-rolled, freshly baked pretzels, along with beef hot dogs and specialty pretzels popular as shopping snacks. Starbucks, the largest coffee chain in the U.S., reopened at Barton Creek Square with a location on the lower level. Two of these stores, Wetzel's Pretzels and Starbucks, have already opened and can be found next to and across from Foot Locker. The remaining stores will open throughout the first half of the year, starting with MINISO, which is expected to open this month next to Abercrombie & Fitch. In March, Pastissimo is expected to open next to AMC Theaters. Mall representatives have also announced that Purificación García will open next to Michael Kors sometime during the spring. Lastly, Claw & Fun is expected to open this summer on the lower level next to Old Navy. The addition of these six stores follows the opening of five stores last year. These include Chubby Cattle on the upper level near Nordstrom, Casper on the lower level next to Warby Parker, Fan Outfitters on the lower level across from Men's Wearhouse, Journeys Kidz on the upper level next to the Lego store, and Perfume Gallery on the upper level across from JD Sports. Beck Andrew Salgado covers trending topics in the Austin business ecosystem for the American-Statesman. To share additional tips or insights with Salgado, email Bsalgado@ This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Barton Creek Square to see six new stores, including Wetzel's Pretzels
