Macy’s Union Square workers say rampant shoplifting to blame for closure

Employees at the Macy's store in San Francisco's Union Square say rampant shoplifting is to blame for the planned closure of the flagship store.

After news broke on Tuesday that the 77-year-old store was among the 150 locations Macy's plans to shutter over the next three years, six employees working at the department store told The Standard that they believed retail theft was a primary factor in the decision.

Hanging up blazers in the Macy’s sixth-floor men’s department, Dalisay said blazers, wallets and boxer briefs are the items most frequently stolen from his department. He said thieves take at least four blazers every day, adding that he typically sees about 10 wallets and 20 briefs stolen daily.

Dalisay said management announced the location would be closing at a store meeting at 9:45 a.m. Tuesday, but they did not say why. He said management added that the store would likely not close until roughly three years from now, but that the building was expected to sell within a year.

A representative for Macy's did not respond to The Standard's questions about whether retail theft was a factor in the decision to shutter the Union Square location but said the company "rigorously evaluated every Macy’s store and reviewed each market to determine the right mix of go-forward locations." The company has said the planned closures, which will affect about 30% of its total locations, are due to flagging sales.

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