San Francisco sees two retailers reopen in Union Square

AT&T plans to return to One Powell Street and the RealReal will reopen a flagship at 253 Post Street on February 26; both locations had been vacant since they closed in 2023.

Two retailers are returning to San Francisco's Union Square after leaving their storefronts in 2023. AT&T plans to move back into the One Powell Street building, and the RealReal will reopen a flagship at 253 Post Street on February 26. Both spaces had been vacant since the companies closed them amid a wave of downtown store departures. The neighborhood experienced a notable drop in operating retailers between 2019 and 2023. Key details: - AT&T is reported to be returning to the One Powell Street building; the company has not announced a reopening date. - The RealReal announced a reimagined flagship at 253 Post Street with a reopening date of February 26. The company's CEO described the move as a sign of confidence in the city's long-term vitality. - Both locations were vacant after 2023 closures that followed a broader downtown downturn. - Union Square had 203 retailers in 2019 and 107 by May 2023, a reported 47 percent drop. - The San Francisco Centre mall permanently closed on January 26 after most tenants left over recent years. - City reports cited in the article note a roughly 30 percent decline in reported crime over the last year and a drop in counted homeless tents from 245 at the start of the mayor's term to 162 by December 2025. Summary: The article presents these reopenings as early signs of recovery for Union Square after large store losses in 2023. The RealReal is scheduled to reopen on February 26, while AT&T’s return date remains unannounced. Local leasing activity, a handful of new openings outside the core shopping center, and reported declines in crime and tents are offered as context, but most 2023 closures have not yet returned.