San Francisco's "progressive" view on crime has resulted yet another big-name company to leave the downtown area. This time, it's Whole Foods.
The San Francisco Standard reports the Whole Foods is closing after being open for less than a year. The reasons include safety concerns for staff and customers:
'We are closing our Trinity location only for the time being,' a Whole Foods spokesperson said in a statement. 'If we feel we can ensure the safety of our team members in the store, we will evaluate a reopening of our Trinity location.'
A City Hall source told The Standard the company cited deteriorating street conditions around drug use and crime near the grocery store as a reason for its closure.
Efforts to make the Whole Foods safer included reducing hours and enforcing bathroom rules after finding syringes and pipes. San Francisco Board of Supervisors member Matt Dorsey said on Twitter he was disappointed with news, admitting that, "Our neighborhood waited a long time for this supermarket, but we’re also well aware of problems they’ve experienced with drug-related retail theft, adjacent drug markets, and the many safety issues related to them."
Our neighborhood waited a long time for this supermarket, but we’re also well aware of problems they’ve experienced with drug-related retail theft, adjacent drug markets, and the many safety issues related to them. (2/7)
— Matt Dorsey (@mattdorsey) April 10, 2023
San Franciscans — or at least the ones I represent in District 6 — are demanding solutions, and they have a right to expect that from those of us in City Hall. I hope my colleagues will support this effort. We owe our residents nothing less. (7/7)
— Matt Dorsey (@mattdorsey) April 10, 2023