Another major retailer headquartered in San Francisco is shutting down its only storefront in the city, but a new high-profile tenant could be taking its place in Union Square.
Popular kitchenware and furniture chain Williams Sonoma is slated to close its three-level store at 340 Post St. by the end of the month, an employee confirmed with SFGATE on Tuesday afternoon. (The employee requested anonymity and was granted it in accordance with Hearst’s ethics policy.) The store was barren of most of its furniture, and the prices of any remaining wares — specialty jarred pasta sauce, enameled Le Creuset cast-iron pans and decorative appetizer plates — were marked down by up to 40% off.
The San Francisco Chronicle was first to report the news. (The Chronicle and SFGATE are both owned by Hearst but have separate newsrooms.) Williams Sonoma did not immediately respond to SFGATE’s request for comment.
The store has operated out of the building since 2003. When it closes, it will be the first time Williams Sonoma’s retail presence has been absent from its home city — the company, founded in Sonoma by Chuck Williams in 1956, still has its corporate headquarters in Fort Mason. It doesn’t look like the space will stay vacant for long, however.
Property records show that luxury fashion brand Chanel bought the building for $63 million in 2022 after making plans to close its boutique at 156 Geary St. and that it’s planning to move in, though an opening date has not yet been confirmed. Chanel did not respond to SFGATE’s request for comment…