37°47′17″N 122°24′27″W / 37.78806°N 122.40750°W
Union Square | |
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![]() Overview of the plaza, 2018 | |
Coordinates: 37°47′17″N 122°24′27″W / 37.788056°N 122.4075°W | |
Country | United States |
State | California |
City | San Francisco |
Reference no. | 623[1] |
Union Square is a 2.6-acre (1.1-hectare) public plaza bordered by Geary, Powell, Post, and Stockton Streets in downtown San Francisco, California. "Union Square" also refers to the central shopping, hotel, and theater district surrounding the plaza for several blocks. The area got its name because it was once used for Thomas Starr King rallies and support for the Union Army during the American Civil War,[2] earning its designation as a California Historical Landmark.[1] Despite its declining profile,[3] Union Square in San Francisco is still a major retail hub for the city.
This one-block plaza and surrounding area was historically home to one of the largest collections of department stores, upscale boutiques, gift shops, art galleries, and beauty salons in the United States, making Union Square a major tourist destination and a well-known gathering place in downtown San Francisco.[4] The Dewey Monument is situated at the center of Union Square. It is a statue of Nike, the ancient Greek goddess of victory.
The COVID-19 pandemic in the United States led to an exodus of companies from Downtown San Francisco, particularly affecting the Union Square retail district.[5][6] Many retailers have cited high levels of crime, open-air drug use, homelessness, and closed storefronts in the areas around Union Square.[7]
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was invoked but never defined (see the help page).The store's closure follows that of several retail establishments around Union Square, including Express, Anthropologie, Gap and CB2.