Japanese Clothing Store Returning To San Francisco: Officials

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — A major Japanese clothing store is coming back to San Francisco four years after closing its flagship store downtown.

Uniqlo will be making its comeback at 801 Market St., which used to be an Old Navy.

It's unclear exactly when the new downtown location will open, but the company said in a press release that it would be opening 11 stores across the country in 2026.

San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie also confirmed in a video on social media on Monday that Uniqlo would be making its return to the "heart of the city."

Lurie said Uniqlo officials had been looking for the "right location at the right time" and that currently appears to be along Market Street.

In 2021, Uniqlo closed its flagship store in the Union Square shopping district at a time when several other retailers were doing the same, according to the San Francisco Chronicle, leaving empty storefronts in what was once a bustling downtown area.

But Uniqlo's return is another sign that San Francisco is on the right path in keeping streets clean and safe, Lurie said.

"We're fired up about this," San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie said in a video on social media Monday. "Let's go."

This will be the second Uniqlo store currently in San Francisco, as one is located at the Stonestown Galleria.