A sea of faces gathered at San Francisco Centre on Sunday for a final farewell party, bidding a poignant goodbye to the beloved mall that has been a staple of the community for nearly four decades.
For Otis Harris, who met his wife in high school and spent countless afternoons and weekends within the mall's walls, the news was nothing short of devastating. "We hope that they turn it into something very special," he said, his voice laced with emotion.
Harris's sentiment resonated throughout the crowd as friends and acquaintances shared stories of their own experiences at the mall. Jasmine Lee, who had captured photos and videos of the gathering on social media, summed up the mood: "That is everything - a beautiful community within the area... it still goes to show that there's people from the city still living here, and like, it's like they're proud."
As the crowd bid their final farewell, whispers of hope filled the air. The new owners have yet to announce what plans lie ahead for the iconic mall, but one thing was clear: San Franciscans will miss its vibrant atmosphere and sense of community.
Despite the uncertainty that lies ahead, on this last Sunday, the city came together to celebrate a place that had been at the heart of so many lives. As Antwan Shelbua, the organizer of the impromptu party, aptly put it: "Just create a memory that it's going to be forever... because hopefully it's going to be posted somewhere that people can see it forever."
For Otis Harris, who met his wife in high school and spent countless afternoons and weekends within the mall's walls, the news was nothing short of devastating. "We hope that they turn it into something very special," he said, his voice laced with emotion.
Harris's sentiment resonated throughout the crowd as friends and acquaintances shared stories of their own experiences at the mall. Jasmine Lee, who had captured photos and videos of the gathering on social media, summed up the mood: "That is everything - a beautiful community within the area... it still goes to show that there's people from the city still living here, and like, it's like they're proud."
As the crowd bid their final farewell, whispers of hope filled the air. The new owners have yet to announce what plans lie ahead for the iconic mall, but one thing was clear: San Franciscans will miss its vibrant atmosphere and sense of community.
Despite the uncertainty that lies ahead, on this last Sunday, the city came together to celebrate a place that had been at the heart of so many lives. As Antwan Shelbua, the organizer of the impromptu party, aptly put it: "Just create a memory that it's going to be forever... because hopefully it's going to be posted somewhere that people can see it forever."
and OMG the burritos were insane!!! I mean, have you guys ever had a proper Mexican meal in SF? It's like they've perfected the recipe or something 
. Anyway, back to the mall... it's so sad to see it go but I'm sure there are plenty of other places for people to hang out and catch up 
. Like, have you heard about that new board game cafe downtown? That place is a hidden gem 
!
anyone else miss this iconic mall? 
It's crazy how a place like that can bring so many people together 
and create lifelong memories 
. I wonder what the new owners have in store for it 
the memories they're sharing on social media are giving me all the feels! i remember my aunt used to take me to the food court every week when we'd visit san francisco... those were the best days 
. idk what the new owners have planned, but hopefully it's something that'll keep the community spirit alive 
. lets hope they don't turn it into some soulless megamall or whatever 
. anyway, its been amazing to see everyone come together and celebrate the good times 
. It's been holding back the city from becoming even more modern and efficient, if you ask me. All these nostalgic feelings are cute and all, but let's be real, it's time for a change! Those memories will live on in the photos and videos Jasmine Lee took, but we shouldn't have to rely on social media to preserve our history 
. Can't wait to see what the new owners come up with – maybe something way more exciting than just "something special" 
. We've got online shopping now, so who needs to physically go to a mall? It's just a bunch of old, outdated stores trying to cling to relevance 
what do you guys think should happen to the mall now? should it be turned into a park or something? 
... I mean I get why they're closing it down, but can't we just have one last hurrah or something? I've spent countless hours browsing through the stores and grabbing food at that mall with friends. It's more than just a shopping center, it's like our little community hub