San Francisco Revives Union Square with Pop-Up Shops

San Francisco is tackling its retail vacancies head-on with the launch of its “Vacant to Vibrant” economic development program. This initiative is transforming empty storefronts in Union Square into thriving spaces by introducing smaller pop-up shops, offering them up to two years of rent-free operation.

One of the first participants is Taylor Jay, an Oakland-based fashion brand, set to open its doors at the corner of O’Farrell and Powell streets this Saturday.

“I’m so excited,” said Taylor Jay, whose previous Oakland locations faced challenges like break-ins and low foot traffic. After closing her second store last summer, Jay began searching for new opportunities, ultimately finding a promising fresh start in Union Square.

This area, historically impacted by retail theft and vacancies, now sees new momentum thanks to “Vacant to Vibrant.” According to Simon Bertrang, Executive Director of SF New Deal, Union Square offers both high foot traffic and numerous vacant spaces—making it an ideal testing ground for the initiative.

SF New Deal has already introduced 17 pop-ups to downtown San Francisco, providing grants, technical support, and an initial three months of free retail space. Union Square pop-ups, however, are set to benefit from longer leases lasting one to two years.

“We’ve placed a strong focus on safety and investment in Union Square,” said Laurel Arvanitidis, Director of Business Development at the Office of Economic and Workforce Development. “Retailers are starting to feel the positive changes.”

The program’s goal is ambitious: to bring 25 additional pop-ups to Union Square and downtown over the next two years. For business owners like Taylor Jay, it’s a chance to reconnect with shoppers and turn vacant spaces into vibrant hubs of activity.
This forward-thinking approach is not only breathing new life into San Francisco’s retail scene but also setting a model for how cities can reimagine economic development in the face of modern challenges.