The Square. Union Square San Francisco. Store Design. This is a blog about Retail Store Design and Lifestyle. Though we will first focus on Union Square San Francisco, Interior Architecture and Storefronts, we hope we can expand to other Town Squares, High streets or shopping areas of interest in the future.
I was positively surprised last night around 5:00 at how well Union Square, San Francisco looked, as a result I realized I had to write this blog. It is true some stores in the district are gone and some storefronts are barricaded. Yet the actual Square, not the district looked great. As an Architect to one of the Corners of Union Square, I always like to visit and analyze. The building portion and storefront I designed in 1983 is still there though the Brand and product changed (from Aca Joe to Swarovski), at the corner of Geary and Powell. It was 40 years ago I opened the Aca Joe store, it had been a quick job 6 months or so from Planning to completion. We had friends doing the expediting. The party was a success.
in 1967 I had come to San Francisco for the Summer of Love (Janis Joplin, The Doors, Santana, at Fillmore West and Avalon Ballroom). PS (the richest Junior at the time in Mexico) and I stayed in a little hotel off Union Square, so I would usually walk the square before going to sleep as a result I have fond memories.. Wow what a difference time makes. 55 years. I would come back in 1983, when I had already done 10 Stores for AJ in Mexico City, Acapulco, Cancun, PV, et. I would stay at my tenderloin Hotel, The Clift! Gradually I moved to Pacific Heights and then Tiburon.
I did many Aca Joe Stores in the Bay Area and Worldwide……..Aca Joe blog on Stores worldwide and San Francisco
So I come back and walk around the square when I can. So much bad news, but I would say there is good news too. There is police, I talked to one and mentioned things looked really calm, and he said wait till tomorrow (APEC happening Biden, and 20 other Presidents, et.) The famous corners and buildings. Perhaps best know was Neiman Marcus in its good days when Philipe Johnson† (Seagrams with Mies, ATT NY, 101 California) did the beautiful glass corner, while I.M. Pei did the Hyatt tower (Louver, Paris) both PJ and IP the highest rated American architect of the late 20th. century, and now at Stockton and Post the Apple Flagship store by Lord Norman Foster (arguably top 5 if not best world practice, Apple Ring in Cupertino), the classics are also there, Tiffany (now part of LVMH) with 2023 Black Rolls Royce, Saks corner building (does CS own it now?) the Saint Francis Hotel, and the Louis Vuitton corner store. So it is a pride to have my corner store Architecture there, together with some of the best Architect and Brand in the World.
The Square. Union Square San Francisco Aca Joe store at the corner of Geary and Powell, Union Square San Francisco in 1984.
The glass elevation was designed to take hurricane wind-loads and earthquake. The Awning attached to the glass were first in the world then too.
Next let’s look at all the Brands and Stores, in Union Square SF. We don’t list them all percentages only the most notable.
The Square. Union Square San Francisco 2023 Stores. From left, Saks Fifth Avenue Department store; Macys department store; Neiman Marcus department store.
The Square. Union Square San Francisco 2023 Stores. From left, Tiffanys, Apple. In between not shown Williams Sonoma.
The Square. Union Square San Francisco 2023 Stores. Top Louis Vuitton, below Nike, and the Rolls Royce. Blade sign seen for Zara. Off the Square
The Square. Union Square San Francisco 2023 Stores. From left Swarovski formerly Aca Joe (Facade by Jerry Jacobs Design©); Victoria Secret.
The Rolls Royce parked first by Tiffany & Co. had to be moved around for my photos but it is nice as a result to have to make Union Square look more Elegant.
My friend Michael P. and I were attending an event, we do what we can to support the office of the Mayor, that Thursday we decided to attend the one for”100 Stockton Street” by Convene and City of San Francisco, two help revitalize Union Square, so though we had other invitations as a result we decided to attend the one from Convene for 100 Stockton. The building was recently remodeled by Gensler Architects, it used to be Macy’s Mens department. now Retail Space is available at the ground floor and the upper levels are fitted by Convene through the wise Interior Architecture by Gensler American Caviar, we keep having met a a great designer from Lewisham, London.
Encore is an excellent host, the event was nicely organized and the catering was excellent. We cannot list all the goodies but here are 2 we liked.Gray WHALE Gin, Handcrafting Authentic California Gin, excellent Cocktails I choose a Negroni; Tsar Nicoulai, sustainable CAVIAR, we kept having more and more; also great were the Chocolates, what else can you say. Great reception.On our way to the event we stopped briefly at Carolina Herrera store on Grant. What a nice and well designed store congratulations CH, we were kindly tour through it by associate Daniel Matchain, who was very proud of the great design contributions. I understand a Spanish Architect and built by Buildgroup.
Here is a list of Stores right on Union Square, listed alphabetically. Followed by other stores, Hotels and Restaurants on the Union Square district. Radius. Also some stores, hotels and Restaurants that have left but were great at one time.
4.4.24 Luxury retailer to replace North Face in space at S.F.’s Union Square
Jerry Jacobs Design. San Francisco . Belvedere-Tiburon. CA+1.415.435.0520. www.jerryjacobsdesign.com
JACOBS DESIGN, INC. © 2024
