San Francisco Centre's Closure Marks the End of an Era, Community Comes Together for Final Farewell
The iconic mall on San Francisco's Third Street is closing its doors after nearly four decades in operation. On Sunday, locals gathered to bid farewell to the beloved shopping destination, sharing memories and paying tribute to a bygone era.
"It's like they're taking away a piece of my heart," said Otis Harris, who has lived in the city his entire life. "I met my wife here, we used to come after school and hang out on weekends. It's sad to see it go."
Harris is not alone in his sentiment. Many attendees, including those born and raised in San Francisco, expressed their disappointment and nostalgia for the mall's closure.
"I'm taking my daughter here for the first time," said Jasmine Lee, a lifelong resident of the city. "It's a beautiful community within our downtown area. It shows that people are still proud to be from this city."
Organizers had planned an impromptu send-off on social media just days before the event, encouraging attendees to create lasting memories by playing music or sharing photos.
"It's about creating a memory that will last forever," said Antwan Shelbua, one of the event organizers. "Hopefully, it will be posted somewhere people can see and cherish forever."
The crowd gathered at the mall, capturing moments and sharing them on social media. As they looked back on the memories made within the iconic mall's walls, they expressed hope for what the future holds.
However, the new owners have yet to announce plans for the building's next chapter.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding its redevelopment, one thing is clear: San Francisco Centre will be deeply missed by the community that grew up with it.
The iconic mall on San Francisco's Third Street is closing its doors after nearly four decades in operation. On Sunday, locals gathered to bid farewell to the beloved shopping destination, sharing memories and paying tribute to a bygone era.
"It's like they're taking away a piece of my heart," said Otis Harris, who has lived in the city his entire life. "I met my wife here, we used to come after school and hang out on weekends. It's sad to see it go."
Harris is not alone in his sentiment. Many attendees, including those born and raised in San Francisco, expressed their disappointment and nostalgia for the mall's closure.
"I'm taking my daughter here for the first time," said Jasmine Lee, a lifelong resident of the city. "It's a beautiful community within our downtown area. It shows that people are still proud to be from this city."
Organizers had planned an impromptu send-off on social media just days before the event, encouraging attendees to create lasting memories by playing music or sharing photos.
"It's about creating a memory that will last forever," said Antwan Shelbua, one of the event organizers. "Hopefully, it will be posted somewhere people can see and cherish forever."
The crowd gathered at the mall, capturing moments and sharing them on social media. As they looked back on the memories made within the iconic mall's walls, they expressed hope for what the future holds.
However, the new owners have yet to announce plans for the building's next chapter.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding its redevelopment, one thing is clear: San Francisco Centre will be deeply missed by the community that grew up with it.
. As an institution that has been woven into the fabric of the community for nearly four decades, its departure will undoubtedly leave a void in the lives of those who have grown up and formed memories within its walls 
.
. These moments of nostalgia serve as a testament to the power of community and the importance of preserving our shared histories 
.
. The community's determination to create lasting memories in the lead-up to the closure demonstrates a deep understanding of the value of place and heritage 
.
I remember my parents taking me to that mall when I was a kid we'd spend hours playing at the arcade and eating at food court it's crazy how things can change so fast 
the pics on social media are bringing back some memories for me too but now it feels like a part of our city is being erased 
san francisco centre been a part of ur life 4eva now it's like they r takin away a piece of history lol @ otis harris "met ur wife here" idk wut i woulda done if i lived in sf back in da day but i can see why u feel sad 
this mall has been a staple in sf for so long its like they're taking away a part of history 
i saw videos from the impromptu sendoff and it was so beautiful 
everyone was dancing and singing along to oldies 
and sharing pics on social media it was like a big ol' group hug 
idk what the future holds for this place but one thing is for sure, sf centre will be deeply missed 
there's something so special about sharing memories and making new ones with people who grew up in the city just like you. and omg jasmine lee's comment about it being a beautiful community is giving me LIFE 
let's keep holding on to those happy memories and look forward to whatever amazing things come next for san francisco! 
it's gonna be so weird not seeing those iconic food court stalls and the awesome arcade anymore 
i hope whoever takes over does justice to that amazing spot tho 
The fact that people are genuinely mourning its closure is kinda adorable, tbh - it just goes to show how much a place like this can become ingrained in your childhood (or adulthood... let's be real). Can't say I'm shedding any tears for it, but to the community, I guess it was more than just a mall 
The memories people shared here are so special and it's sad that they won't be able to create new ones in this space anymore 
As for what happens next, can you imagine a different kind of mall coming to replace it? Would that be a good thing or would it lose some of its charm? 
. Now it's like saying goodbye to a piece of our collective past 
. The community came together for this farewell event, which is really cool... but we all know that's not gonna fill the void 
my heart is literally breaking seeing all these pics of people growing up in the mall on social media it's like otis harris said "it's like they're taking away a piece of my heart" i totally feel him 
can't wait to see what they come up with though maybe it'll be a beautiful tribute to the mall's legacy 
i mean what am i gonna do without my fave hangout spot? it's not just a mall to me it's where i had my first date, where i went to prom, and where i hung out with friends after school. 
i want to see something beautiful and iconic take its place. like, i dont know what but somethin that makes me feel like i'm still in san francisco 
Plus, the new owners might finally fix up the streets around it, which could bring some life to the whole area. Not to mention, I'm over all the nostalgia and sentimental crap... let's focus on the future! 
. It'd be so cool if they had a "San Francisco Centre" museum or something to commemorate its legacy 
.
. Like Otis said, it's like taking away a piece of your heart 
.
I've been to so many shopping trips here with my friends and family and making memories that I'll always treasure 
. gotta respect antwan shelbua for organizing a last-minute sendoff though 
hope whoever takes over the building decides to keep the spirit of sf centre alive 
. It's like something out of The Notebook where you gotta leave your old life behind 
. Whoever does take over, they're gonna have big shoes to fill 
.