Another big tech company is dealing a blow to San Francisco’s commercial real estate market by relocating a multiple-day convention that has delivered a significant economic boost in past years.

Silicon Valley tech giant Alphabet is moving its high-profile Google Cloud Next conference to Las Vegas, the latest loss San Francisco’s downtown convention center has suffered in recent years that has resulted in depressed hotel activity and dwindling foot traffic to business properties around the 580,000-square-foot Moscone Center at 701-747 Howard St.

The company confirmed in an emailed statement to CoStar News that the conference, which typically draws thousands of attendees each year, will be held at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas next year, but did not provide a reason explaining the move.

Google’s decision to pull the plug on hosting the event in San Francisco follows similar moves made by other tech giants such as Meta and IBM, both of which are planning events in alternative cities such as Denver and Orlando, Florida.

What’s more, San Francisco-based Salesforce is on the verge of finding a different home for its annual Dreamforce convention. If relocated, the move would deal a financial blow to the city, which has long benefited from the 40,000-person crowd the conference attracts that stays in hotel rooms, frequents local restaurants and pumps millions of dollars into the local economy.

It is the largest convention for the city, according to the San Francisco Travel Association, but Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff recently warned that if issues such as homelessness and drug use persist — both of which have been primary factors for the loss of other tech conferences — the Dreamforce 2023 event will be the city’s last.

“We’re working hand in hand with the city as we always do,” the CEO said. “We’ll bring a significant number of people to the city, and it will generate $57 million in the downtown economy. So it’s in all of our interests for it to go well.”

Salesforce declined to provide additional comments.

The cancellations by Google, Meta, IBM, among others, come as the region, already struggling with a lack of returning office workers and tourists and record-high vacancy rates and other pandemic-related challenges, works to recover. With an office vacancy rate of nearly 30% in San Francisco’s financial district, some owners are considering alternative property uses.

Events at the Moscone Center, located at the heart of downtown San Francisco, typically help fill nearby hotel rooms and generate foot traffic for restaurants and retailers, which have suffered amid steep declines in business recently. The city and county of San Francisco own the convention center.

Hotel room bookings are typically an indicator of the health and business travel activity in San Francisco. However, a complicated mix of ongoing remote work trends, low office utilization rates, socioeconomic challenges such as homelessness, and the city’s worsening reputation on the global stage has left the Moscone Center struggling to attract the conference business it needs to fully return to pre-pandemic levels of activity.

Throughout the pandemic, San Francisco had among the steepest declines in business travel revenue of any major metropolitan area in the country, according to data from the American Hotel & Lodging Association. Those problems have continued, as more than 2 million hotel room bookings were lost or canceled for 2023 and 2024.

The number of conferences and room nights booked for the year ahead provides only a murky picture as to whether the outlook will improve.

The Moscone Center expects to host 36 conferences this year that will result collectively in about 663,000 hotel room bookings, according to the local travel association. That’s significantly higher than the roughly 17,000 rooms booked in 2021. However, only 22 events and 462,000 definite room nights are on the books for next year.

The city’s tourism association reported that its convention sales team had booked 16 upcoming events for the Moscone Center, including the 2024 Visa Payments Forum and the 2026 Super Bowl LX & NFL Experience.

The downtown convention center is slated to host 21 events that will result in more than 426,950 hotel room bookings in 2024, a 34% drop compared with 2023, according to a recent San Francisco Travel Association report.

San Francisco’s hospitality market “remains one of the least recovered hotel markets in the United States,” according to a CoStar report. While hotels post higher daily rate averages, the city is one of the few markets where average daily rate figures have not recovered to 2019 levels.

Negative national press coverage has deterred leisure visitors and convention center events. Also, the city’s heavy tech presence has meant corporate travel has been muted. A delay in the return of robust international travel activity has hurt the city’s hospitality business, too. A CoStar analysis forecasts that San Francisco’s hotel occupancy rates will unlikely recover within the next five years.

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We take one last glimpse at the enemy this week, the San Francisco 49ers.

• By
  
  TCDeckard
  
• on October 6, 2023 8:30 pm

Ward and Greenlaw Return to Practice; McCaffrey Talks Gearing up for Cowboys – Lindsey Pallares, 49ers.com

After a veteran rest day, RB Christian McCaffrey looks ahead to his toughest test yet.

“My body feels great,” McCaffrey said. “Even when you take the off day, all the trainers and strength and conditioning coaches do a good job of moving you and keeping you in shape. At the same time, getting a little day off once in a while feels great on your body.”

Having the NFL’s leading rusher feeling fresh midway through the week bodes well for the 49ers who will face one of the league’s most formidable run defenses. Factoring out the Cowboys Week 3 loss to the Cardinals, Dallas has given up an average of 75 yards per game on the ground. McCaffrey has only had one game in which he hasn’t hit 100 rushing yards on his own. It’s one of the matchups to watch come Sunday.

“Any time you’re playing a team like this, you have to come ready to go and just be about executing,” McCaffrey said.

Last season in the NFC Divisional Round game, the 49ers do-it-all back logged 10 carries for 35 yards and touchdown to help San Francisco secure the 19-12 win. McCaffrey says his game planning for the Week 5 game entails some looking back to that January matchup, but it’s just one piece of the preparation.

“You’ll look at last year’s tape, a little bit of it, look at the games they’ve had this year and take notes off of everything,” McCaffrey said. “Really, each week is a new week. I try to treat it that way.”

Cowboys-49ers rivalry is undergoing a renaissance – Nick Wagoner & Todd Archer, ESPN

This storied, yet balanced rivalry (series tied at 19-19-1), is rooted in postseason contests.

Theirs is a rivalry borne not out of geography or divisional alignment but of repeated meetings in the postseason crucible.

It started in the 1970s, when the Cowboys won consecutive NFC Championship Games over the 49ers in the 1970 and 1971 seasons and bested San Francisco in a divisional playoff game in 1972. In the 1980s, the 49ers won four Super Bowls, beating the Cowboys in the NFC Championship Game on Jan. 10, 1982, on the strength of “The Catch” by Dwight Clark, arguably the most memorable moment of the rivalry.

Dallas came storming back in the 1990s, knocking off the Niners in the NFC Championship Game after the 1992 and 1993 seasons on its way to two Super Bowl titles. San Francisco finally got past Dallas the next season in the NFC Championship Game on its way to its fifth (and most recent) Lombardi Trophy. The Cowboys would bounce back to win their fifth (and most recent) championship the following year.

And then … nothing.

The teams did not meet again in the postseason until a wild-card game on Jan. 16, 2022, a span of 9,863 days. The teams met again last season in the NFC divisional round. The 49ers won both games by a combined 13 points, reviving the rivalry and setting the stage for Sunday night.

With 49ers at 4-0, George Kittle is just fine with limited production in pass game – Myles Simmons, ProFootballTalk.com

George Kittle is all team.

George Kittle has long been one of the league’s most effective tight ends, playing in 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan’s offensive system.

But last week was the first time in a regular-season game that Kittle’s received just one target.

Kittle caught the pass for a 9-yard gain. But even though he was on the field for 96 percent of San Francisco’s offensive snaps, quarterback Brock Purdy threw to Kittle just that once.

With the 49ers at 4-0, Kittle’s limited passing-game production is alright with him.

“Niners are winning the football games,” Kittle said Thursday, via David Bonilla of 49erswezbone.com. “I’m playing well in the run game, and as long as I’m playing to my standard, I can only control what I can control. If Kyle’s calling plays — we have six guys who, when they touch the ball, you don’t know what’s going to happen. They can score touchdowns, they can break tackles.”

“Sure, I love getting the football,” Kittle said. “I love running in space. It’s fun. If those aren’t the play calls being called, it is what it is, and I’m just going to do everything I can to either get those guys open or block my ass off. And I’ve been doing that pretty well so far.

Friday’s injury report for Dallas @ San Francisco.

Cowboys:

Questionable – LB Damone Clark (shoulder); Out – TE Peyton Hendershot (ankle)

49ers:

Read more

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Nordstrom has closed the doors of its downtown San Francisco store. Justin Sullivan—Getty Images

One of the flagship retailers in downtown San Francisco has called it quits. Nordstrom closed the doors on its five-story, 312,000-square-foot store Sunday for the last time ever, the latest retailer to capitulate to rising crime and lower foot traffic.

The news wasn’t a surprise. Nordstrom announced it planned to shut down the once-vibrant store in May.

“The dynamics of the downtown San Francisco market have changed dramatically over the past several years, impacting customer foot traffic to our stores and our ability to operate successfully,” Jamie Nordstrom, chief stores officer, wrote in a letter to employees at the time.

While Nordstrom was once one of the kings of downtown San Francisco shopping, its final days were anything but glorious. Displays were empty, and areas were sealed off.

The company also shut down its Nordstrom Rack on Market Street last month, walking away from the heart of the city.

Nordstrom joins a growing contingent of retailers abandoning the area. Office Depot, Old Navy, Saks Off 5th, and Anthropologie have shuttered their downtown locations, and a nearby Whole Foods has also left, citing safety concerns.

Nordstrom’s departure has extra ripple effects, though. Westfield, the mall where the closing store is located, announced it would be giving the property back to its lender. That mall has been a fixture on Market Street for over 20 years. Sales at the mall, named San Francisco Centre, came in at $298 million last year, compared with $455 million in 2019, Westfield said when announcing the decision. Foot traffic at the mall was down 42% in that same time period.

“A growing number of retailers and businesses are leaving the area due to the unsafe conditions for customers, retailers, and employees, coupled with the fact that these significant issues are preventing an economic recovery of the area,” the mall’s owner said at the time Nordstrom announced the closing.

San Francisco has been in the midst of what some call a “doom spiral,” with office buildings and businesses still empty in the post-pandemic landscape. Crime has reached levels high enough to prompt some downtown pharmacies to lock up shampoo, toothpaste, and other toiletries. And armed robbers recently hit a Gucci store in broad daylight.

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After 35 years in business at the same location, Nordstrom closed its flagship store in San Francisco, California Sunday.

The closure comes as crime, homelessness, and public drug use have been on the rise in the city’s downtown.

Nordstrom’s store was located in the Westfield San Francisco Centre on Market Street. It occupied 312,000 square feet spread over five floors since 1988. According to MSN, the company had announced the store would close last May due to declining sales. 

Social media influencer Ian Miles Cheong posted a video to Twitter showing the empty space that once housed Nordstrom.

“Nordstrom is leaving San Francisco for good,” he wrote. “Like many other retailers, it is no longer able to do business in the crime-ridden city.”

Nordstrom is leaving San Francisco for good. Like many other retailers, it is no longer able to do business in the crime-ridden city. pic.twitter.com/IMsgrp0Ihz

— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) August 28, 2023

“It’s definitely partially due to the crime in the area. COVID-19 had a big impact,” a Nordstrom employee told KGO-TV.

Rising crime rates have been a problem in other cities too where gangs of thieves sometimes target stores in broad daylight with impunity.

Earlier this month, several people ransacked a Nordstrom store in the Topanga Mall near Los Angeles.  A video of the brazen daylight robbery was posted to Instagram. 

Warning: Foul Language Alert

Critics are blaming San Francisco’s leaders for the increase in crime that has led to several businesses leaving. Retailers who have announced plans to pull up stakes and leave the Golden Gate City, include Old Navy, Banana Republic, Crate & Barrel, AmazonGo, Saks Off Fifth, Anthropologie, and Office Depot, according to MSN. 

Meanwhile, Walgreens and other stores have locked up most of their products in displays due to the increase in shoplifting in the area. 

A downtown security guard told The New York Post he sees at least five thefts happen where he works every day. 

“I can’t use any force, so there’s nothing I can do,” the guard, who wanted to remain anonymous, said. “In my eight-hour shift, we catch at least 15 people coming in and stealing, and it’s worse on weekends. 

The National Retail Federation (NRF) said that in some cases, “rampant crime and the dangers coupled” have led to a decrease in foot traffic, according to Fox Business. 

“It should come as no surprise that these factors can have a negative impact on businesses and can contribute to the decision to close a specific store location,” the NRF said in a May blog post. “Several national brands recently closed locations in the San Francisco area, with many saying that retail crime was a factor.” 

“I will say this: We have some serious issues to work on in San Francisco,” city Supervisor Matt Dorsey told KGO.

“San Francisco has always had ups and downs, but I’m going to tell you we always come back. And I’m not going to lose my optimism about my district or my city,” Dorsey said.

As Nordstrom was moving out of Market Street, furniture manufacturer IKEA was moving in, opening a brand new store on Market Street. 

“The arrival of @IKEA is great news for the City’s economic recovery that will bring local jobs and excitement to the Union Square area,” Mayor London Breed said in a tweet earlier this month. “We are thrilled to welcome IKEA to be part of San Francisco’s future.”

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There are many ways to track home design trends. One of the best is considering what retailers are seeing specifiers and homeowners purchasing – especially retailers that cater to both professional and consumer clientele across the country, like the Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery chain and its Build with Ferguson website.

Here are five of their latest residential trends showing an increasing focus on wellness, along with what they signify, and related insights from designers who shared their own experiences via professional social media groups and email.

Biophilic Intention

provide a biophilic feast for the occupants.Image courtesy of Signature Hardware at Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery

Biophilia literally translates to love of living elements, and signifies design elements that are inspired by nature and/or incorporate natural materials. The purpose is to provide a nurturing, relaxing space for occupants.

“Think biomimicry: wallpapers, leafy tile designs, art echoing nature, and marble with water-like color and pattern. Play with living finishes on wood and metals and enjoy the beauty of organic shapes,” suggests Seattle-based kitchen designer Paula Kennedy. “Though our natural urge is to connect with nature, we’re indoors 87% of the time,” she adds. “Inviting the outdoors inside becomes vital.”

“One way to do that includes maximizing natural sunlight whenever possible,” notes New York designer Isfira Jensen. “Another way is to select natural materials. Finally, I incorporate indoor plants throughout the home whenever possible.”

Wetroom Bathrooms

accessibility. Image courtesy of Kallista at Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery

This trend combines tub and shower in a single space — usually the home’s primary bathroom — rather than in a single fixture, like the tract home tub/shower combinations many of us grew up with. The wetroom takes advantage of surfacing materials designed to handle water and slip resistant flooring, as well as maximizing space and potentially adding accessibility with roll-in entry to the shower section of the bathroom.

“Wet bathrooms are becoming increasingly popular in our interior design projects. The traditional notion of separating dry and wet areas in a bathroom is evolving as clients seek more versatile spaces,” notes Alberta, Calgary area designer Michelle Fleischhacker. “The open and most often-barrier free layout of wet bathrooms can help our clients ‘future-proof’ their spaces should they encounter mobility challenges down the road. Without the need to step over a bathtub or into a shower enclosure, entry and movement are more straightforward,” the Canadian professional adds.

“Wet rooms can overcome the constraints of narrow dimensions in bathrooms, providing homeowners with more amenities in the same footprint,” observes Seattle area designer Molly McCabe. She cautions though, for remodeling projects, they “require very careful planning and often engineered stamped permit drawings, also local building code knowledge.”

Eco-mindfulness

sustainability and wellness.Image courtesy of Wolf at Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery

Sustainability is a definite benefit of eco-mindful design, but so is creating healthier home interiors. The EPA says our indoor air can be five times more polluted than the air outdoors. That creates an imperative for designers to choose materials that do not off-gas into a room, (that is releasing chemical gases that can be unsafe and unhealthy for occupants.)

Palm Beach area designer Denise Jadd welcomes this trend. “By embracing this approach, we are prioritizing our clients’ health and wellness at home as we navigate through the selections to choose better materials, and address their health concerns as non-toxic materials eliminate harmful chemicals and fumes that can be detrimental to our respiratory system.”

There’s a challenge for professionals and homeowners alike in sorting through the myriad claims that fall into both ‘green-washing’ and ‘well-washing’ claims. “Covid accelerated our industry to produce healthier products, and consumers are buying based on company core product values to the environment,” observes Denver-based kitchen designer Jan Neiges. “The challenge has been in finding one source that can both sanction these products and provide a directory of companies that adhere to that. We have so many labels; we need one that all the sub-labels can fall under, making it easy for professionals to help clients.”

Multi-sensory Design

create multi-sensory experiences in the shower.Image courtesy of ThermaSol at Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery

This trend is about appealing to multiple senses, rather than just what can be seen. This can include embracing the tactile with textured surfaces, surrounding a space with soothing sounds (and blocking out exterior noises), filling a room with fragrant flowers and, of course, providing beauty.

Kennedy offers these multi-sensory examples that can be achieved with design elements and planning: “Observing the shifting interplay of light and shadows with the sun’s journey, experiencing the gentle breeze through an open window, listening to the soothing melody of trickling water, and embracing the textures of natural woods, living finish metals, and organic fibers that surround us. These components collectively bridge the gap to nature, providing a grounding, calming, and holistic physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual healing.”

“The essence of a home lies not just in its appearance but in how it feels, sounds, and even smells,” observes Dallas-based interior designer Brad Smith. “I consider factors like acoustics – using soft furnishings to reduce noise pollution, and aromatherapy – recommending scents that relax or energize, based on the function of the room. Touch also plays a part – from smooth countertops in kitchens to plush carpets in bedrooms, each texture evokes a different sensation.”

Technical Support

for home chefs of all levels.Image courtesy of Thermador at Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery

Smart home technology is providing numerous opportunities for making our homes safer, healthier and more functional. These can include indoor air quality monitoring, leak detection, automated window coverings for light control , hands-free faucets for reduced germ spread and much more.

“Technology is transforming the way homeowners live today, offering convenience, efficiency, security, and a higher quality of life,” declares San Francisco Bay area designer Sheeja Nair. “A lot of our projects include smart, motorized window treatments that can be completely automated, or operated with a mobile device or a voice assistant.” Her client favorites include lighted smart mirrors, touchless faucets, and motion-sensing lighting.

“We use smart home lighting system setup to mimic natural lighting patterns to regulate circadian rhythms. This lighting technology helps clients improve sleep quality and mood in a noticeable way,” Jensen shares.

Fleischhacker’s older clientele are also embracing technology, she notes. “From newer technology such as ovens that provide recipe suggestions to simple wi-fi enabled thermostats and safety-centric sensor lighting, technology is changing how our clients experience their homes. We can personalize their spaces with everything from refrigerators that help them manage grocery lists to hands-free faucets and self-cleaning toilets. We find it is a win-win for clients to feel pampered within their own home while family members are comforted by the safety features afforded by technology.”

Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn. Check out my website or some of my other work here. 

I’m a Wellness Design Consultant and Mayo Clinic Certified Wellness Coach with 18 years in the building, home design and remodeling sphere.

My third book, Wellness by Design, published in September 2020 by Simon & Schuster, won a prestigious Bruss Book Award in 2021.

In addition to writing, I speak on wellness design topics for regional and national conferences, and consult for design industry firms and analysts.

I’m currently hosting twice-monthly Wellness Wednesday rooms on Clubhouse, the first and third week of the month at 4 PM Eastern/1 PM Pacific. You can check the current schedule here.

You can read more of my writings on my website at jamiegold.net.

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By Harriet Alexander For Dailymail.com

23:56 14 Jun 2023, updated 12:53 15 Jun 2023

The cinema inside San Francisco’s Westfield mall is to close this week – days after Westfield said that it too was moving out, dealing another blow to the struggling downtown.

Cinemark will show its last films on Thursday and close for good Friday.

Cinemark told The San Francisco Standard they had decided to close before the conclusion of its lease term, due to a ‘comprehensive review of local business conditions.’ 

The cinema chain becomes the 24th major store to close in Union Square area since the start of the pandemic, the paper reported.

Earlier this week, Westfield announced they had defaulted on the $558million loan for the building and is handing it back to the lender, which will appoint a receiver. The mall will remain open for now.

The decision was sparked by the decision from Nordstrom, the mall’s anchor tenant, to close in August.

Westfield blamed ‘unsafe conditions’ and ‘lack of enforcement against rampant criminal activity’ in large part for Nordstrom’s departure.

The Cinemark cinema, Century Theatre, in downtown San Francisco will close Friday Westfield in San Francisco (pictured) has announced that it is handing the building back to the lender A woman in a wheelchair injects drugs at San Francisco’s infamous open-air drugs market. The taxpayer funded ‘harm reduction’ facility opened and shuttered close to Westfield in early 2022, after criticism that it had done nothing to sort out the city’s many social ills

Westfield said the ‘unprecedented’ poor performance in San Francisco was a sharp contrast to the rest of its properties.

San Francisco Centre generated $455 million in sales in 2019, before the pandemic.

Last year, sales were down about a third to $298 million.

Nordstrom occupied 312,000 square feet in the mall: when it closes, Westfield San Francisco will only be 55 percent leased.

Other Westfields are, on average, 93 percent leased.

The mall is a smart and upmarket building, whose other retailers include Bloomingdales, Aesop, Rolex and Sephora.

Westfield’s struggles will pile fresh pressure on city leaders, after multiple retailers and hotels shuttered in downtown San Francisco as it continues to battle soaring crime, open drug use and homelessness.

The famously progressive city has been condemned for its ‘harm reduction’ policies, which critics say have effectively legalized drug taking. Meanwhile, its police department remains short-staffed after woke lawmakers called for defunding in the wake of George Floyd’s murder.  

‘For more than 20 years, Westfield has proudly and successfully operated San Francisco Centre, investing significantly over that time in the vitality of the property,’ the company said.

‘Given the challenging operating conditions in downtown San Francisco, which have led to declines in sales, occupancy and foot traffic, we have made the difficult decision to begin the process to transfer management of the shopping center to our lender to allow them to appoint a receiver to operate the property going forward.’

Westfield’s San Francisco mall includes 1.2 million square feet of retail space and 300,000 square feet of offices.

It is in the troubled Union Square area in the center of downtown, where homelessness and crime are rife.

Camps are set up around the city and people take drugs openly. Pictured: Homeless tents are seen in Tenderloin District during heavy rain in San Francisco on January 11 Several of the stores which have closed cited safety concerns as the downtown area of San Francisco is ravaged by homelessness and drug taking Retailer Old Navy has become the latest retailer to vacate crime-ridden San Francisco (File photo from 2020) Nordstrom recently shuttered a store in San Francisco, citing changing ‘dynamics’ in the city as the reason for the closures Employees at a Target store in San Francisco recently said it was being robbed as frequently as every ten minutes

Whole Foods, Old Navy, Gap and Office Depot are just some of the stores in the district to announce in recent months that they are closing.

Out of 203 retailers open in 2019 in the city’s Union Square area, just 107 are still operating – a drop of 47 percent in just a few pandemic-ravaged years.

The city is in something of a vicious cycle: office workers are now working from home, leaving the downtown area significantly quieter, and making the empty streets more dangerous. The rise in crime then deters people from entering downtown.

And as the downtown empties, the city loses essential tax revenues, and the area becomes less appealing.

The revenue loss to the city caused by decreased property taxes could reach $196 million per year by 2028, according to modeling published in November by the San Francisco Controller’s Office. 

The best-case scenario from the modeling expects the cost will be nearer to $100 million per year.

The building that houses The San Francisco Chronicle, a block from Westfield mall, faces a 60 percent vacancy rate by the fall as tenants Yahoo and Autodesk’s leases expire.

An analysis of official figures and other research reveals San Francisco may lose hundreds of millions of dollars through an exodus of businesses and its failure to recover from COVID Signs posted to cars near the linkage site announce ‘nothing to steal’ as crime continues to rise in one of the city’s poorest and most drug-infested neighborhood Tourism is steadily recovering to its pre-covid highs, according to figures from the San Francisco Travel Association

Next door, the 415 Natoma office tower is 97 percent vacant.

San Francisco foot traffic totaled 5.6 million visits between January and December 2022 – a 42 percent drop.

In 2019, the figure was 9.7 million visits.

The city has been affected by a state-wide shoplifting law that downgraded stealing goods worth less than $950 from a felony to a far less serious misdemeanor crime. 

A disturbing recent report showed 95 retailers in downtown San Francisco have closed since the start of the COVID pandemic, a decline of more than 50 percent.

In April, Whole Foods said it would shut its flagship store in downtown San Francisco ‘for the time being’ to ensure staff ‘safety.’

San Francisco Mayor London Breed has proposed a record budget despite the city facing a $1.3 billion deficit by 2028

‘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 spokesperson said.

Similarly, a Target store in the city has been forced to lock up more of its products to stave off thieves.

An employee at the location recently said it was being robbed as often as ‘every ten minutes.’

Many major tech companies based in San Francisco – including Meta, Google, Salesforce and Twitter – have also axed tens of thousands of jobs in recent months as the industry suffered a post-covid downturn.

In April, Salesforce said it will leave its eponymous 30-story Salesforce East building in downtown, where around 1,000 staff had worked before the pandemic.

City officials launched a $6 million ad campaign in May to lure back tourists. Visitor numbers have improved since covid and in 2022 were around 16 percent lower than the record-breaking 26.2 million in 2019.

The international campaign included a commercial featuring an array of local talent, including Lady Camden, a drag queen who became popular on ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race,’ and local muralist Sirron Norris.

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Martín Castillo immigrated from Peru with one goal in mind: soccer.

He was 19 years old, barely spoke English and had no family living in the Bay Area. Yet his passion for soccer compelled him to leave Lima, his parents and four younger siblings to try out for the pro team that would later become the San Jose Earthquakes.

“We came (to the Bay Area) with a conviction of trying to change things for us, so it came with a vision for all of us to pursue a career, pursue a dream,” said Antonio Castillo, Martín’s younger brother, who immigrated from Peru more than two years after Martín to also pursue a Major League Soccer career. “Soccer didn’t work out, so we started working on the next. We are here right now with a new dream, and the hard work is still happening.”

The new dream began in 2002 when Martín, Antonio and Eduardo Castillo opened a Peruvian restaurant in San Francisco. They named it Limón, which translates to “lime,” to pay homage to a staple ingredient in Peruvian cuisine and to their hometown of Lima. Limón has since expanded to Walnut Creek, Oakland, Burlingame and, now, Mountain View. As a testament to its influence in the Bay Area, late San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee declared Oct. 25 Limón Day in 2011.

The downtown Mountain View location opened its doors last month at 800 California St., at the corner of Castro Street. It was nearly three years in the making, according to the Castillos, largely due to the lengthy permit process.

Band of brothers

The Castillo brothers’ journey to success wasn’t easy.

“Leaving my house in the beginning was hard,” Martín said. “At one point … I wasn’t sure I was going to stay because here I was by myself, barely speaking English.”

But when Martín learned his brother Antonio was also joining him in the Bay Area, he knew he would stay. And a few years after Antonio arrived, their brother Eduardo joined as well.

“I was a dishwasher, a janitor,” Antonio said. “My brothers were cooks, bussers, bar backs.”

And on weekends, the brothers continued to play soccer recreationally. After the games, it became a tradition for the players to come over to the brothers’ house in Daly City for a feast. The brothers prepared dishes inspired by their mom’s cooking, with techniques they picked up working in American restaurants.

“In our house, our mom was the chef of the family,” Antonio recalled. “Every large event that we had, my mom was always the one who made the food and created a menu. She was a really great, creative cook. So, since we were little kids, we were introduced to the cuisine and the flavors without knowing it.”

The after-soccer gatherings gained traction, becoming larger and more elaborate. Guests suggested the Castillo brothers start their own restaurant, noting that quality Peruvian food was hard to come by in San Francisco.

They soon opened Limón in a small space of approximately 25 seats on 17th Street in San Francisco. And it was a hit.

“A lot of our menu is inspired by our childhood,” Martín said. “The flavors are what we grew up with, and that’s what we try to do here. We like to play with the food. We collaborate on ideas. That’s how we come up with something unique.”

Much of the menu at Limón is inspired by the owners’ childhood.

Adrienne Mitchel/Town Crier

Limón serves modernized versions of traditional Peruvian food. Many of Limón’s dishes use chimichurri, a bright and herbaceous Argentinian sauce. The plating for Limón’s Arroz con Mariscos, or “rice with seafood,” is inspired by Spanish paella. And Limón even incorporates crispy calamari into ceviche in its dish called Carretillero Travieso.

When asked what it’s like to be in business with his two brothers for more than 20 years, Antonio said, with a laugh, “I mean, we haven’t killed each other.” He went on to explain that the three brothers have complementary talents.

“Martín is the brain and the creative in the kitchen, I run the dining room and the numbers, and Eduardo is in the kitchen also being right next to him,” Antonio said. “We are super invested in the business. We are our own first critics. We’ve been learning from ourselves for the past 20 years.”

Mom’s influence

Most of all, the brothers attribute their success to their mom, Luz.

“Our mom is the person who inspired us to be here today,” Martín said. “We have some items on the menu that were inspired by her. Who we are today is because of our mom. Learning, working, dedication, cooking skills are all from our mom, watching our mom, learning from our mom.”

And if patrons are lucky, they might even run into Luz at one of Limón’s locations.

“Sometimes she shows up,” Martín said. “Sometimes she still comes and jumps behind the kitchen. Our mom is a big part of our success.”

The Castillo brothers said they look forward to the opening of their seventh Limón location, anticipated in November or December in Redwood City.

The post Transferring to Bay Space to play soccer, Peruvian brothers change course and open eating places, the newest in Mountain View | Enterprise appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Nordstrom Shoppers Caption: Nordstrom is closing both of its downtown San Francisco stores, citing the area’s changed “dynamics,” which has not recovered since the pandemic and is in the crime spotlight. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg/Getty Image)

By Jordan Valinsky | CNN

Nordstrom is closing both stores in downtown San Francisco, citing the changed “dynamics” of the area, which has not recovered since the pandemic and has been in the crime spotlight.

The two locations are a 312,000-square-foot, five-story Nordstrom department store in the Westfield Shopping Center and a Rack discount store across the street on Market Street. Both locations will close in the summer, with the upscale department store chain telling employees in a memo that it is phasing out the stores’ leases.

RELATED: What’s Really Up With San Francisco’s Crime?

“Decisions like these are never easy, and this one was particularly difficult,” Jamie Nordstrom, Nordstrom’s chief stores officer, wrote in a memo obtained by CNN. “But as many of you are aware, the dynamics of the downtown San Francisco market have changed dramatically over the past few years, impacting the flow of customers into our stores and our ability to operate successfully.”

A spokesman for the mall told CNN affiliate KGO-TV that Nordstrom’s closure “underscores the deteriorating situation in downtown San Francisco.”

“A growing number of retailers and businesses are fleeing the area due to the unsafe conditions for customers, retailers and employees, and the fact that these significant issues are preventing the area from recovering economically,” the mall said.

Nordstrom’s exit dealt another blow to San Francisco, as several well-known chains in the city have closed. A few weeks ago, a Whole Foods location that opened just a year ago announced it was temporarily closing for safety reasons. San Francisco Standard, an independent news website, has tracked 20 major store closures since 2020, including Anthropologie, Office Depot and CB2.

Incidents of theft in San Francisco have drawn national attention, despite a general decline in crime over the past six years.

Property crimes in San Francisco have garnered national attention through several attention-grabbing videos of thieves in action. Though still well below 2017 levels, the city saw a 23% increase in property crime between 2020 and 2022, with an increase in burglaries and theft leading the way, according to the San Francisco Police Department.

Meanwhile, violent crime statistics in San Francisco have remained relatively stable in recent years. Preliminary police data reports 12 homicides in San Francisco this year, up 20% from the same period last year. Overall, there were 56 homicides in San Francisco in 2022, which is the same number of homicides the city recorded in 2021.

In addition to crime, there are several other reasons that may have contributed to the closure of Nordstrom’s locations. First, post-pandemic remote work has led to a drop in foot traffic in major U.S. downtown areas, including San Francisco. Malls are also gaining popularity among shoppers as they increasingly shift their engagement online.

Nordstrom, too, has been struggling with its own problems and recently announced the closure of its Canadian stores. The company is also focusing its efforts on the discount rack unit and recently unveiled a rebrand to attract new buyers.

The CNN Wire & © 2023 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery company. All rights reserved.

The post Nordstrom is the most recent retailer to depart San Francisco – East Bay Occasions appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

GOLF Magazine‘s inaugural ranking of the finest courses in Asia-Pacific is long overdue. Not only does the region boast an eclectic mix of architecture, but it’s also home to some of the finest designs built this century. To say the course-build­ing business in the lands where the sun rises first is booming would be an understatement.

The ease of modern travel makes this region more attainable than ever. We trust that this ranking will help with future trips. Akin to golf in the United Kingdom, a proper letter of introduction gains you access to a majority of the region’s finest courses, which makes this ranking even more meaningful and practical. It’s a long flight, but you’ll return with lifetime memories.

What are you waiting for?

More GOLF course rankings: Top 100 Courses in the World | Top 100 Courses in the U.S. | Top 100 Courses You Can Play | Top 100 Value Courses in the U.S. | America’s Best Municipal Courses | Top 100 Courses in the U.K. and Ireland | Top 100 Short Courses in the World

Methodology: How we rate courses | Meet our expert raters

Ed. note: Unless otherwise noted, the course descriptions below were written by Ran Morrissett.

1. Royal Melbourne (West)
Blackrock, Australia
Alister MacKenzie, 1926

Beside the club parking area is the horse-drawn plough and scoop that was used to slowly construct what some people consider to be the finest course in the world, let alone Asia-Pacific: the West Course at Royal Melbourne. Because construction played out over a four-year period, the tie-ins are gorgeous, meaning the transition between where nature stops and man’s hand begins is nearly indiscernible. The bunkers are steep-faced and chew into the putting surfaces. The sand is compact too, so to short-side yourself is to likely cost yourself a stroke. How refreshing to find hazards that play as hazards! Standout holes abound, including the short par-4 3rd with its green that falls away; the ½-par 4th that plays up and over the crest of a hill; the photogenic one-shot 5th; and one of the game’s quintessential doglegs, the 6th, which sweeps right around a large native area to a fiercely contoured green. The course embodies all of Alister MacKenzie’s design ideals, even though he was in the country for only nine weeks.

Gary Lisbon

2. Kingston Heath
Cheltenham, Australia
Dan Soutar, 1925; Alister MacKenzie, 1926

Dan Soutar, Mick Morcom and Alister MacKenzie each played a key role in creating a visual feast and a strategic masterpiece, helped in large measure by the site’s critical virtue of sitting on sandy soil. Any modern architect should spend time here, studying how Kingston Heath’s creators teased so much from land that is neither rambunctious nor expansive. It’s no wonder this course is a darling among design aficionados. A stellar collection of two-shot holes pose the full range of questions. Among the other standout holes are the par-5 7th with its exasperating swale in front; the tiny par-3 10th played over scrub; and the uphill one-shot 15th played across a series of bunkers that are a masterclass of presentation.  

Airswing Media

3. Tara Iti
Te Arai, New Zealand
Tom Doak, 2015

Tara Iti jumped onto our World list in 2017 as one of our highest debuting courses ever. Then it moved higher still. The course is buoyed by its enviable location in the dunes along the Pacific Ocean, along with superior fine-fescue fairways and swirls of natural grass and sand. The design is loaded with remarkable holes. The punchbowl 3rd green is something that must be experienced firsthand with its design highlighting the joys of a ball careening this way and that along the ground. Two of Tara Iti’s one-shotters — the 15th and 17th — are hyper-photogenic as they play to greens along the coast. Another of the course’s finest moments comes at the long uphill 12th, which plays away from the water to an open, tilted green that is 7 feet higher on its right than left. The tight playing surfaces combine with architecture that dazzles even when one’s back is to the Pacific.  

Jacob Sjöman

4. Hirono
Miki-Chi, Japan
C.H. Alison/Chozu Ito, 1932; Martin Ebert, 2019

Japanese golfers had never seen the kind of deep, strategically placed bunkers that architect C.H. Alison introduced to Hirono in the early 1930s — so much so that this style of bunkers became known as “Alisons.” Originally, the course bore a sandy, scrubby appearance akin to Pine Valley (where Alison consulted), but tree planting changed Hirono’s character over the decades. Thankfully, Martin Ebert’s 2019 restoration effort reestablished sand as a dominant theme. No one seems to agree on which is its best par-3, as they are all outstanding. Certainly, the Fjord 5th across a lake and the Devil’s Divot 7th played across a gulley with a series of menacing bunkers cut into the far face are as good a pair of one-shotters as you’ll find on any outward nine. Another standout hole is the par-5 15th, where a central-hazard tree followed by a ravine put great pressure on the player’s second shot. From inception, Hirono set the standard for design excellence and all other Japanese courses have been measured against it since. 

5. Barnbougle Dunes
Bridport, Australia
Tom Doak/Mike Clayton, 2004

Australia’s greatest links continually achieves top status thanks to a sophisticated design coupled with a stirring seaside setting with holes nestled in large dunes that run parallel to the ocean. Each nine fans from opposing sides of the clubhouse. The dunes extend inland “only” some 350 yards and the architects did a fabulous job in having the holes flow across them in every conceivable manner. One highlight is the short, 122-yard 7th, which is the Southern Hemisphere’s equivalent to Royal Troon’s devilish Postage Stamp hole. One of its design tricks is that it heads in a different direction from any previous hole, meaning golfers don’t have a good read on the wind before hitting a short iron toward the green ringed by deep bunkers – and worse. The drivable 300-yard 4th is another instant classic, featuring a natural blowout bunker in the foreground that must be carried while avoiding two smaller — though equally penal — bunkers on the left closer to a green perfectly placed in a natural saddle. 

Larry Lambrecht

6. Kawana (Fuji)
Ito, Japan
C.H. Alison/Komyo Ohtani/Kinya Fujita, 1936

There are no guarantees a great course will emerge from a great site. Routing a course — making all 18 holes connect while simultaneously complementing one another — requires vision and talent. It is a true gift and the primary differentiator between being a good architect and an elite one. In the case of the Kawana Resort, its owner, Baron Okura, did not think that the original routing took full advantage of the site’s wonders, which range from views of snowcapped Mt. Fuji to cliff-top panoramas of the Pacific Ocean. Therefore, he organized for C.H. Alison to scout the property while he was working at Tokyo GC. Alison developed a different routing and several years later the course was built under the expert guidance of Koymo Ohtani and Kinya Fujita. The result is what some people consider to be their favorite course along the Pacific Ocean — including California and Oregon! There isn’t a single weak hole, and the golfer eventually runs out of superlatives when describing how well this undulating land was utilized. Recent tree clearing along the perimeter has enhanced the site’s phenomenal coastal setting. Just look at this view of the 7th hole; a decade ago, trees behind the green blocked off this water view. 

Courtesy Kawana Resort

7. Te Arai (South)
Tomarata, New Zealand
Bill Coore/Ben Crenshaw, 2022

Te Arai South is soon to form half of the Te Arai resort alongside the Tom Doak-designed Te Arai North opening in late 2023. Paired with their cousin just along the coast (Tara Iti), this stretch of coastline north of Auckland will soon rank among the world’s dream golf destinations. “Playing Te Arai South is a beautiful experience where the linksland rises perfectly from the beach, mesmerizing the golfer with white sand below, the Pacific Ocean beyond and the islands in the distance. While the early holes dance in and out of the woods, from the 5th hole onward, Te Arai South unfolds into a mind-bendingly fun stretch of coastal golf featuring thrilling short holes, an array of fun short par-4s and some bold, diverse, restrained and zany greens punctuated by the Sitwell-inspired 16th. No commentary on the South course at Te Arai is complete without a nod to the wee 17th, which, no matter how hard the wind is blowing, is one of the greatest 100-yard holes in world golf. — Michael Goldstein, GOLF panelist

Gary Lisbon

8. Royal Melbourne (East)
Black Rock, Australia
Alex Russell/Mick Morcom, 1932

Confident in his own work, Alister MacKenzie freely lauded the work of others. In the United States, he considered Perry Maxwell to be as talented as anyone; in Australia, his man was Alex Russell, who deserves full credit for the East Course, in addition to Paraparaumu Beach (No. 17), Lake Karrinyup (No. 36) and other gems in Australia and New Zealand, including Yarra Yarra (No. 44). The panel’s appreciation of the East Course raises the question: What club offers the finest 36-hole day in golf at one location? Though many champion Winged Foot, Sunningdale and Baltusrol, it is hard to argue that Royal Melbourne isn’t the pick of the bunch.

David Cannon/Getty Images

9. Victoria
Cheltenham, Australia
Alister MacKenzie, 1927; Ogilvy Clayton Cocking & Mead, 2019

Many courses worldwide built before 1940 have been undergoing thoughtful restorations. Victoria is a sterling example, with Mike Clayton meticulously overseeing much of the work over a 20-year period. Today, Victoria enjoys the style of golf that Alister MacKenzie introduced to Australia through his work across the road at Royal Melbourne.  The bunkers and waste areas reflect a Golden Age aesthetic, green undulations and surrounds are both fun and challenging and the overall conditions are as firm and fast as any in the Sandbelt. The club’s leadership and agronomy team also deserve credit for only fostering indigenous vegetation on the property while removing all other forms that had crept in over the decades. The short par-4s at the 1st and the 15th stand out even in a neighborhood full of such risk/reward holes. And the short green-to-tee walks make Victoria a walker’s paradise. — Pete Phipps, GOLF panelist

Gary Lisbon

10. New South Wales
La Perouse, Australia
Alister MacKenzie/Eric Apperly, 1947

Sydney’s magnificent Harbour Bridge and Opera House speak to a city of impossible beauty, and the course at La Perouse is its crowning golf offering. The middle of each nine features holes along the rugged shoreline. The two most famous holes are the par-5 5th, with its long, downward sloping fairway toward the Pacific, and the 195-yard 6th that plays over an inlet of Cape Banks. But the stretch from 13 to 16 is as good a run of par-4s as you will find anywhere.

Gary Lisbon

11. Cape Kidnappers
Te Awanga, New Zealand
Tom Doak, 2004

Drone shots of this course are evocative, showing holes on fingers of land hundreds of feet above the swirling Pacific Ocean. But golf is played from the ground, not the air, and that works just fine here with the site’s tumbling landforms. The course’s most famous hole is also its most feared: the 650-yard, par-5 15th, which falls away on both sides of the fairway and sports a horizon green perched precariously on a bluff overlooking the ocean. Architecture buffs are likely to be just as captivated by the playing angles at the preceding hole, a short two-shotter with a Road Hole green complex. 

Joann Dost

12. The Club at Nine Bridges
Jeju Island, South Korea
Ron Fream/David Dale, 2001

Nine Bridges’ appeal starts with its tranquil setting on Jeju island, with holes etched into pine-clad rolling topography in the shadows of Mount Halla, Korea’s tallest peak. Lakes, creeks and wooded slopes not only contribute to the beauty and variety but also are seamlessly integrated into the design. Nine Bridges routinely hosts important professional and amateur events, and the contestants uniformly praise both its challenge and presentation.

Nate Gardner

13. Shanqin Bay
Hainan, China
Bill Coore/Ben Crenshaw, 2012

A tropical island in the south China sea may be an unlikely location for world-class golf but Hainan Island features a plethora of dramatic landforms: steep stretches of rolling farmland, a broad canyon, majestic sand dunes and dense vegetation. Shanqin Bay’s routing, bordered by the sea on three sides, embraces all of these geomorphic features creating a thrilling 18-hole ride. The tumultuous journey takes golfers high on a cliffside and hill where stunning ocean views prevail and dips and turns into valleys and ravines bordered by unyielding native vines and grasses. There’s a pleasant mix of long and short holes that hug the land and are simultaneously natural and strategic. Fairway bunkering is relatively sparse as befits the terrain. Greens are strewn over both high and low land, creating a wonderful, motley array of approach shots. The interior holes may lack the visual drama of those on cliff and beach but do not cede any shot value or playing interest. At Shanqin Bay, Coore and Crenshaw turned hostile geography into an exalted playground for golf. — Joe Andriole, GOLF panelist

Gary Lisbon

14. South Cape Owners Club
Namhae-gun, South Korea
Kyle Phillips, 2013

American designer Kyle Phillips’ work has dazzled at such diverse geographic locations as the California Golf Club of San Francisco, Kingsbarns in Scotland and Yaz Links in Abu Dhabi. Add in this South Korean course and you start to gain a sense of Phillips’ global footprint. Working for business magnate Jae Bong Chung, Phillips was given a sprawling coastal site complete with cliffs on an island just off the South Korean peninsula. You might assume the highlights are the par-5 6th, which twists uphill past rocks and large sandscapes, and the 220-yard 7th, which plays out over the sea. But then you arrive at the stretch from 13 to 16. The 16th is Asia’s equivalent of 16 at Cypress Point, and there is a legitimate debate as to which is finer. No surprise given its owner, but the clean lines and décor of the clubhouse and lodging show immaculate taste, and the music library is a can’t miss. 

Joann Dost

15. Cape Wickham
King Island, Australia
Mike Devries/Darius Oliver, 2015

Wickham wows with an opening stretch of seaside headland holes, three par-3s that skirt the sea and a Cape-style 18th that demands a bite-off-as-much-as-you-dare drive over Victoria Cove. Set on the northern end of King Island in the Bass Strait between Tasmania and mainland Australia, this course and Ocean Dunes (No. 39) occupy the windiest spots of any on our list. Wickham compensates with wide landing areas and greens that are open in front, meaning golfers are guaranteed to have fun, be they in a one-club wind — or five! Either way, you are set for a day of lasting memories.

Gary Lisbon

16. Barnbougle Lost Farm
Bridport, Australia
Bill Coore/ben crenshaw, 2010

Unlike its sister course Barnbougle Dunes where the holes run up and down the coast within a narrow band of dunes, the routing here defies description, with holes to-ing and fro-ing in every direction, culminating with the par-5 12th set 1,300 yards from the coastline. With the wind whipping off the Bass Strait, you need to make constant allowances for how the wind impacts each hole. The gorgeous, tiny par-3 4th kicks off the course’s finest four-hole stretch, but the pièce de résistance is Coore’s work in the flats, namely the 2nd and 12th greens and the outrageously clever par-4 16th. The course storms home from there with a long par-3 to a green benched high in the dunes and a long two-shotter that tumbles over land to an open green that is much deeper than it is wide. 

Gary Lisbon

17. Paraparaumu Beach
Paraparaumu Beach, New Zealand
Alex Russell, 1949

“Alex Russell, the one-time design associate of Alister MacKenzie, is an oft-overlooked actor within the top echelon of golf in Australasia. Russell’s crowning glory was at Paraparaumu Beach, where in 1948 — arguably drawing the curtain on the golden age of golf architecture — his life in golf culminated in creating one of the world’s premier links. “Though Paraparaumu Beach may lack the stunning vistas of the modern masterpieces of New Zealand golf,  its routing is one for the purists where restraint balances against its epic, rumpled landforms. Paraparaumu is a seamless stroll through the dunes which are of perfect scale for walkable golf. While most reviews emphasize Paraparaumu’s short holes (notably the 16th to a deep but slender green), the real depth of strategic design comes from the diversity found within its two-shot holes, most notably the rumpled drivable 6th; the whimsical drive-and-pitch 8th; the rollicking 13th; and the strategic dogleg 17th. Once a bit overgrown and spongy, today’s course soars under strong custodianship — the trees are gone allowing the native wastelands to flourish and the playing corridors are once again firm and bouncy. It’s proper links golf of the highest order. — Michael Goldstein, GOLF panelist

David Cannon/Getty Images

18. Ellerston
Hunter Valley, Australia
Greg Norman/Bob Harrison, 2001

Greg Norman always professed his admiration for Alister MacKenzie. At ultra-exclusive Ellerston, he and design partner Bob Harrison adapted MacKenzie strategies and bunker stylings on a rugged landscape, resulting in one of the strongest, most option-laden tests in the Southern Hemisphere. Forced carries over ravines, greens set along ridge tops and the influence of Pages Creek add to the challenge. Few golfers can access to the course, which is shame given there is so much to admire architecturally. 

getty images

19. Tokyo
Sayama City, Japan
Komyo Ohtani, 1940; Gil Hanse, 2018

The only word that does this course and club justice is elegant. The existing course is in the club’s third location, and even though C.H. Alison designed the second iteration, today’s course offers even better golf. Koymo Ohtani, who closely studied and worked with Alison, deserves primary credit. He routed today’s course — anchored by a world-class collection of par-5s — and later a second green was added to each hole, with the goal of having one green with a warm weather grass and another with a cool weather variety. That made sense in that era but improvements in agronomy have rendered that approach moot. Still, the two-green system flourishes thanks to work done several years ago by Gil Hanse and Neil Cameron. At the par-3 4th, you play from the upper-right tee to the lower-left green, or you play from the lower-left tee to the upper-right green. Elsewhere, at the 6th, you can bounce a ball onto the open lower-left green that is at grade with the fairway with a creek hugging the green’s left side. But the upper-right plateau green with deep guarding bunkers poses an entirely different ask. Tokyo GC occupies an expansive piece of property, which is precisely what is required to pull off such an elaborate two-green system. First-timer visitors to Tokyo GC will leave yearning for more two-green courses, though this design will always be in a class by itself. 

courtesy tokyo GC

20. Royal Adelaide
Adelaide, Australia
H. Rymill/C. Gardner, 1906; Alister MacKenzie, 1926

A dune system in the middle of the property was put to perfect use with holes fanning in and out of it on both nines. You haven’t seen the best holes in Australia until you play the short par-4 3rd and the par 4-11th with its interrupted fairway that requires a shot over broken ground to a green nestled at the base of a large dune. Other highlights include the pugnacious par-3 7th green, which is ringed by eight bunkers and plays toward the sea less than 2 miles away. A tram line bisects the course, and the best hole on the east side of it is surely the dogleg-right 14th that features another interrupted fairway. The course and the club exude Old World charm. 

courtesy royal adelaide

21. Naruo
Kawanishi, Japan
Joe Crane/Harry Crane/Bertie crane, 1930; C.H. Alison, 1931

22. Peninsula Kingswood (North)
Frankston, Australia
Sloan Morpeth, 1965; Ogilvy Clayton Cocking & Mead, 2018

23. Himalayan
Pokhara, Nepal
R.B. Gurung, 1994

In a country known for trekking, golf architect one-hit-wonder Major Ram Gurung delivers a stunning walk across unirrigated ground in the sub-tropical region of Pokhara, Nepal. Holes run back and forth across the Bijaypur River, which flows downhill from the Annapurna mountain peak more than 26,000 above sea level.  The ledge-top descent into the canyon at the 3rd amounts to the start of an escape from civilization for the next couple of hours. Strategic options abound at a hole like the 6th, a long par-5 with decisions about where to place your tee ball alongside whitewater rapids, followed by a choice to go for the green on your second shot. Heroics and skill are required to play the angles properly and to keep your ball dry if you want an eagle putt. If the 6th hole delivers foolish temptation, then the uphill, 150-yard 7th is about caution.  The green is partially hidden on a plateau with wild vegetation growing out of the rocky precipice. Survive by playing your tee shot to the center of green. Did you make the carry from up there? Walk across the river and climb the ledge to find out. The flow and rhythm of the holes and how they relate to one another are excellent throughout. The ascent back to civilization — on the 16th-hole tee shot across a chasm — requires a moment of pause. You can’t find this brand of excitement anywhere else. — Tom Brown, GOLF panelist

Jon Wall

24. St. Andrews Beach
St. Andrews Beach, Australia
Tom Doak/Mike Clayton, 2004

25. The National (Moonah)
Cape Schanck, Australia
Greg Norman/Bob Harrison, 2000

26. Yokohama (West)
Yokohama, Japan
Takeo Aiyama, 1958; Bill Coore/Ben Crenshaw, 2016

27. The National (Gunnamatta)
Cape Schanck, Australia
Thomson Wolveridge & Perrett, 2000; Tom Doak, 2019

28. Kasumigaseki (East)
Kawagoe, Japan
Kinya Fujita/Shiro Akaboshi, 1929; Tom Fazio/Logan Fazio, 2016

29. Newcastle
Fern Bay, Australia
Fred Popplewell Sr., 1915; Eric Apperly, 1932

30. Lanhai Int’l (Yangtze Dunes)
Chongming Island, China
Jack Nicklaus, 2011; Ogilvy Clayton Cocking & Mead, 2018

Nick Wall

31. Metropolitan
South Oakleigh, Australia
J.B. MacKenzie, 1908; Dick Wilson, 1960

32. Ono
Ono, Japan
Osamu Ueda, 1961

Ono GC was established after the war as a sister club of Hirono by Toyohiko Inui, the founder and developer of Hirono GC. Inui chose Osamu Ueda, who had restored Hirono, to design the course. The front nine is on relatively gentle terrain facing the huge Oike Pond, which is strategically incorporated into holes 7, 8, and 9. The back nine is laid out on slightly hilly terrain with the 10th being especially handsome thanks to its well-placed bunkers. The next hole features a pine tree as a central hazard, a favorite design ploy of Ueda’s (he did the same at holes 4 and 7). At the 11th, the pine stands at the dogleg point and helps to make the hole a gentle double dogleg. Holes 14 and 15 flow uphill, and 16 is a gorgeous downhill heroic par-5. Many overseas visitors note how the par-3s (5, 8, 12 and 17) are all memorable and their individuality accentuates one’s impression of the course overall. Ono deserves its praise as a true hidden gem among classically designed Japanese courses. — Masa Nishijima, GOLF panelist

33. Hoiana Shores
Quang Nam, Vietnam
Robert Trent Jones Jr., 2020

34. Kauri Cliffs
Matauri Bay, New Zealand
David Harman, 2000

35. Abiko
Abiko, Japan
Rokuro & Shiro Akaboshi, 1931; Brian Silva/Kye Goalby, 2013

36. Lake Karrinyup
Karrinyup, Australia
Alex Russell, 1928; Mike Clayton, 2007

37. Whistling Rock (Temple/Cocoon)
Chuncheon, South Korea
Ted Robinson Jr., 2011; Eric Iverson, 2017

getty images

38. Ayodhya
Boh Talo, Thailand
Thomson & Perrett, 2007; Pitak Intrawityanunt, 2012

39. Ocean Dunes
King Island, Australia
Graeme Grant, 2016

40. Osaka
Misaki, Japan
Osamu Ueda, 1937

In 2013, Osamu Ueda’s masterpiece was revived with restoration advice from Japanese course architect Taizo Kawata. The removal of trees along the coastline opened panoramic views of Osaka Bay. Kawata was selective in what trees needed to be felled but he helped reveal a wonderful landscape, especially prominent at holes 3 and 7 that head toward the sea. Golfers now appreciate the gorgeous up-and-down seaside terrain. The course measures only 6,402 yards but is full of character. Take the 9th hole, a short par-5 of 477 yards that features a downhill tee shot into an attractive valley, followed by an uphill second shot whereby the golfer needs to decide whether to take the high-left or low-right portion of a spilt fairway. The back-nine’s drama intensifies at hole 13 where the fairway is diagonal and features a slightly uphill tee shot, with the approach shot played to a long green with greenside bunkers left and right and the sea behind. The next hole, a par-3 along the cliff, is equally photogenic. Ueda let the land dictate the pars, and its unusual par finish of 5-3-5-3 is part of Osaka’s charms. — Masa Nishijima, GOLF panelist

41. Woodlands
Mordialloc, Australia
J.D.H. Scott, 1919

42. Mission Hills (Blackstone)
Haikou, China
Brian Curley, 2010

43. Kooyonga
Lockleys, Australia
Herbert Rymill, 1923; Neil Crafter/Paul Mogford, 2012

44. Yarra Yarra
Bentleigh, Australia
Alex Russell, 1929; Tom Doak, 2021

45. Nikko
Nikko, Japan
Seiichi Inoue, 1955; Taizo Kawata, 2001

46. Peninsula Kingswood (South)
Frankston, Australia
Sloan Morpeth, 1965; Ogilvy Clayton Cocking & Mead, 2018

47. Stonehill
Sam Khok, Thailand
Kyle Phillips, 2022

48. Commonwealth
Oakleigh South, Australia
sam Bennett, 1921; Charles Lane, 1927; Sloan Morpeth, 1938

49. FLC Quang Binh (Forest Dunes)
Hai Ninh, Quang Binh, Vietnam
Brian Curley, 2018

Vietnam’s coast is the stuff of any architect’s dreams with sandy beaches giving way to rumpled dunes replete with coastal vegetation. The Quang Binh Resort occupies an enviable position along one such sandy stretch. Two of its courses — Forest Dunes and Ocean Dunes (No. 71) —make our ranking. Architect Brian Curley has designed scores of courses across Asia, and he considers this one of the finest sites with which he has worked. Still, any great site can be ruined by a crummy development plan, and that is decidedly not the case here. This is pure golf, with no development at the surrounds, leaving golfers free to soak up the bright white sands, ocean backdrops, pristine blue waters, clusters of dark trees and lush marshes. As it relates to the Forest Dunes course, Curley notes, “I hope some might consider this to be the most natural course in Asia as we didn’t create a single formal bunker. Instead, we used irregularly edged transitional sandy lows and dunes with splashes of native grasses that cut through the fairways at all sorts of angles. Many of the fairways are interconnected and the large greens have strong interior movement, kick-slopes and backstops, all of which promote the ground game, not to mention having fun.” The short par-4 7th is drivable and features two greens, one surrounded by sand and the other with a narrow lead-in of turf. Another standout hole is the par-4 15th that heads to sea, wrapping around a sandy marsh.

Brian Curley

50. Pine Beach (Pine/Beach)
Haenam, South Korea
G.R. Baird/David Dale, 2009

51. Ballyshear
Tambon Bang Bo, Thailand
Gil Hanse, 2022

Do you celebrate blind shots? How are you in the face of an unexpected bounce, or having to endure the rub of the green? At Ban Rakat Club — affectionately named Ballyshear — architect Gil Hanse created a welcome break from the norm course (especially for Asia) that poses such unconventional questions, with inspiration drawn from C.B. Macdonald’s historic-but-no-longer existing Lido course. Shapers transformed a flat site by moving sandy soil to create elevation changes. The par-5 6th hole with its alternate fairway is a triumph in design as it is so rare to find an alternate fairway that actually works — but if you accept the risk of finding the narrower right fairway, you are rewarded with a shorter shot to the green.  The course features several C.B. Macdonald-style template holes, and they thrive because of the bouncy conditions. Recent advances with zoysia grasses have transformed what is possible in Thailand’s climate; the firmness is produced by the low level of moisture percentage in the fairways, less than what is found at most professional tournament sites around the world. — Tom Brown, GOLF panelist

IG: ballyshear_golf_links

52. Titirangi
Auckland, New Zealand
Alister MacKenzie, 1927

53. Sentosa (Serapong)
Singapore
Ronald Fream, 1982

54. Kinloch
Kinloch, New Zealand
Jack Nicklaus, 2007

55. FLC Quy Nhon (Ocean-Nicklaus)
Binh Dinh, Vietnam
Jack Nicklaus, 2016

56. Jack’s Point
Queenstown, New Zealand
John Darby, 2008

57. The Bluffs Grand at Ho Tram BA
Ria-Vung Tau, Vietnam
Greg Norman, 2010

58. Barwon Heads
Barwon Heads, Australia
Victor East, 1921; Neil Crafter/Paul Mogford, 2005

59. BRG Da Nang (Nicklaus)
Da Nang, Vietnam
Jack Nicklaus, 2020

60. Royal Canberra
Yarralumla, Australia
John Harris, 1961; Ogilvy Clayton Cocking & Mead, 2016

61. Dunes at Shenzhou East
Wanning, China
Tom Weiskopf/Phil Smith, 2012

62. Grange (West)
Grange, Australia
Herbert Rymill, 1927; Vern Morcom, 1965; Mike Clayton, 2008

63. Mission Hills (Hainan Lava Fields)
Haikou, Hainan, China
Brian Curley, 2011

64. Lake Malaren (Masters)
Shanghai, China
Jack Nicklaus, 2011

65. Jagorawi (Old)
Gunung Putri, Indonesia
Thomson & Wolveridge, 1979

Peter Thomson — with design associates Michael Wolveridge, Ronald Fream and construction supervisor Max Wexler — took more than four years to build the Old Course at Jagorawi Golf & Country Club, in the Bogor Regency of West Java, Indonesia.  The design is one of the best examples of minimalism on our Top 100 Asia and Australia list. The course was built without land-moving equipment, and the locally sourced construction crew used picks and shovels to clear the rainforest. Sand for the greens was screened from the rivers, which run adjacent to several of the holes. The fairways drain via narrow cement culverts on the perimeter, which flow into the surrounding jungle. But fear not if your tee shots go astray: forecaddies with flags are ready to assist should you carve one into the jungle. Jagorawi is a beautiful walk that follows the topography through the tropical environment. Green complexes are consistent with the slope of the land with an occasional dimple or rise. A round here is a reminder of how painfully over-shaped most modern courses are. — Tom Brown, GOLF panelist

courtesy Jagorawi

66. Shanghai Links
Shanghai, China
Jack Nicklaus, 1999

67. Koga
Koga, Japan
Osamu Ueda, 1953; Shoichi Suzuki, 1996; Ko Tanihira, 2005

68. Oarai
Oarai, Japan
Seiichi Inoue, 1953

69. Arrowtown
Arrowtown, New Zealand
Reg Romans/B.V. Right, 1936; B.V. Right, 1971

70. Shimonoseki
Ahimonoseki, Japan
Osamu Ueda, 1956

71. FLC Quang Binh (Ocean Dunes)
Hai Ninh, Vietnam
Brian Curley, 2019

72. Myotha National
Sagaing, Myanmar
Lee Schmidt/Brian Curley, 2018

73. Stone Valley
Kim Bang, Ha Nam, Vietnam
Brian Curley, 2018

74. Jack Nicklaus GC
Incheon, South Korea
Jack Nicklaus, 2010

75. The Lakes
Eastlakes, Australia
Robert von Hagge/Bruce Devlin, 1968; Mike Clayton, 2007

76. Amata Spring
Tambon Nong Mai Daeng, Thailand
Lee Schmidt/Brian Curley, 2005

77. Victoria
Digana, Sri Lanka
Donald Steel/Martin Ebert, 1999

The island nation of Sri Lanka, just off the tip of India, is one of the most beautiful countries I have ever visited. Donald Steel delivered at Victoria with a minimalist design that gets the most from the land, courtesy of an excellent routing. The golf is challenging, beginning with the opening tee shot, which requires a carry over a severe right-to-left slope. The stretch from 4 to 6 is as good as it gets: the 4th (below) is a tiny one-shotter at the top of the property with lovely views in all directions; the 5th is a short two-shotter with a high road or a low road to either side of a large central tree, with the third option tempting players to try to carry the tree and drive the green; and the 6th might be the No. 1 handicap hole on the Subcontinent, playing dizzyingly downhill from a high tee over the treetops to a narrow fairway along a ridge, then over a stream to a green benched into the opposite hill. Improbably, the back nine is as good as the front, if not quite as dramatic. The course is narrower than I usually recommend — a tree almost criminally blocks off the left three-quarters of the approach at the 14th — but the par-5 15th and the Redan 16th are outstanding. I hope they eventually cut down a few trees to let the land breathe, because as the terrain and routing are the stars. — Tom Doak, GOLF panelist

courtesy victoria

78. The National (Old)
Cape Schanck, Australia
Robert Trent Jones Jr., 1988

79. The Dunes
Rye, Australia
Tony Cashmore, 1995

80. Hokkaido Classic
Abira, Japan
Jack Nicklaus, 1991

81. 13th Beach (Beach)
Barwon Heads, Australia
Tony Cashmore, 2001

82. Waverley
Waverley, New Zealand
Ernie Southerden, 1965

Even the most intrepid of golfers are unlikely to find themselves passing through rural Taranaki on the west of New Zealand’s North Island. Waverley would be easy to miss, given how the undefined playing corridors drape over the almost overly rambunctious undulations. Three miles from the Tasman Sea, the landscape heaves like windswept sand. The routing flows with, over and against the terrain, turning this way and that, calling for the ball to be worked and the wind constantly judged. A rhythmic sequence, full of intrigue and adventure, is interspersed with half-par holes that tempt and frustrate. Wonderfully varied green complexes with elegant curves sit seamlessly within their surroundings. The elevated, “Tom Thumb” punchbowl green site of the 12th (below) is one to never forget. Bursting with contour and a spirit of adventure, the long 14th tempts a dangerous fence-line following route toward its semi-amphitheater green. The landscape is rich in texture, complemented with distant views of a dormant volcano to distract and inspire. While the sheep-kempt fairways may be too rugged for some, Waverley shares many of the characteristics associated with the world’s best golfing playgrounds. — Clyde Johnson, GOLF panelist

Clyde Johnson

83. Cathedral Lodge
Thornton, Australia
Greg Norman, 2017

84. Lonsdale Links
Point Lonsdale, Australia
Ogilvy Cocking & Mead, 2020

85. Kasumigaseki (West)
Kawagoe, Japan
Kinya Fujita/Seiichi Inoue, 1932; Taizo Kawata, 1994

86. Saujana (Palm)
Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
Ron Fream, 1986

87. Laguna Lang Co
Thua Thien Hue, Vietnam
Nick Faldo, 2013

Gary Lisbon

88. Haesley Nine Bridges
Yeoju-gun, South Korea
David Dale, 2009

89. Dunes at Shenzhou West
Wanning, China
Tom Weiskopf/Phil Smith, 2010

90. Blue Canyon (Canyon)
Tambon Mai Khao, Thailand
Yoshikazu Kato, 1991

91. Royal Hong Kong (Composite)
Sheung Shui, China
Eden: l.S. Greenhill, 1931; John Hopkins/Peter Thomson, 1968;
New: John Hopkins/Peter Thomson/Michael Wolveridge, 1970

92. Glenelg
Novar Gardens, Australia
Herbert Rymill, 1927; Vern Morcom, 1954; Neil Crafter/Bob Tuohy, 1998

93. Port Fairy
Port Fairy, Australia
Members, 1963; Kevin Hartley, 1985; Mike Clayton, 2002

94. Nicklaus Club Beijing
Beijing, China
Jack Nicklaus, 2014

95. Royal Queensland
Brisbane, Australia
Carnegie Clark, 1921; Mike Clayton, 2005

96. The Australian
Rosebery, Australia
Jack Nicklaus, 1976, 2013

97. Anyang
Gunpo-Si, South Korea
Chohei Miyazawa, 1968; Robert Trent Jones Jr., 1997

98. Joondalup (Quarry/Dune)
Connolly, Australia
Robert Trent Jones Jr., 1985

Robert Trent Jones Jr.’s North American portfolio is expansive enough to make most architects jealous, but his work in Asia and Australia might be even more impressive, with his designs in several countries scattered throughout this ranking. No doubt, he was one of the early trailblazers from the U.S. who helped expand the game in Asia-Pacific. Built in 1985, Joondalup is just north of Perth in Western Australia. Perth is a charming city but its remoteness (it is three hours from Adelaide by plane) keeps many Americans away and has prevented this resort course from being better known. The Quarry nine is the showpiece of RTJ Jr.’s 27 holes here and highlights his natural flair for drama. Take the 3rd hole. Though short at 135 yards, it is all carry over a gnarly 60-foot deep quarry, and the green is adept at soliciting three-putts. On the Dune nine, Jones perfectly routed the dogleg-right 3rd hole to finish at the base of a steep cliff, creating an indelible backdrop. Try to book an early-morning or late-afternoon tee time; the effect that the shadows have across these landforms only heightens the excitement. 

Courtesy Joondaloop

99. Siam (Old)
Tambon Pong, Thailand
Ichisuke Izumi, 1971; Lee Schmidt, 2007

100. Portsea
Portsea, Australia
Jock Young, 1926; Sloan Morpeth/Jack Howard, 1960; Mike Clayton, 2000

More GOLF course rankings: Top 100 Courses in the World | Top 100 Courses in the U.S. | Top 100 Courses You Can Play | Top 100 Value Courses in the U.S. | America’s Best Municipal Courses | Top 100 Courses in the U.K. and Ireland | Top 100 Short Courses in the World

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The post GOLF’s newest Prime 100 rating appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

new York
CNN
—

Nordstrom is closing both stores in downtown San Francisco, citing the changed “dynamics” of the area, which has not recovered since the pandemic and has been in the crime spotlight.

The two locations are a 312,000-square-foot, five-story Nordstrom department store at Westfield Mall and a Rack discount store across the street on Market Street. Both locations will close over the summer, with the upscale department store chain telling employees in a memo that they will rent The leases of the shops are expiring.

“Decisions like these are never easy, and this one was particularly difficult,” Jamie Nordstrom, Nordstrom’s chief stores officer, wrote in a memo obtained by CNN. “But as many of you are aware, the dynamics of the downtown San Francisco market have changed dramatically over the past few years, impacting the flow of customers into our stores and our ability to operate successfully.”

A spokesman for the mall told CNN affiliate KGO-TV that Nordstrom’s closure “underscores the deteriorating situation in downtown San Francisco.”

“A growing number of retailers and businesses are fleeing the area due to the unsafe conditions for customers, retailers and employees, and the fact that these significant issues are preventing the area from recovering economically,” the mall said.

Nordstrom’s exit dealt another blow to San Francisco, as several well-known chains in the city have closed. A few weeks ago, a Whole Foods location that opened just a year ago announced it was temporarily closing for safety reasons. San Francisco Standard, an independent news website, has tracked 20 major store closures since 2020, including Anthropologie, Office Depot and CB2.

Incidents of theft in San Francisco have drawn national attention, despite a general decline in crime over the past six years.

Property crimes in San Francisco have garnered national attention through several attention-grabbing videos of thieves in action. Though still well below 2017 levels, the city saw a 23% increase in property crime between 2020 and 2022, with an increase in burglaries and theft leading the way, according to the San Francisco Police Department.

Meanwhile, violent crime statistics in San Francisco have remained relatively stable in recent years. Preliminary police data reports 12 homicides in San Francisco this year, a 20% increase from the same period last year. Overall, there were 56 homicides in San Francisco in 2022, which is the same number of homicides the city recorded in 2021.

In addition to crime, there are several other reasons that may have contributed to the closure of Nordstrom’s locations. First, post-pandemic remote work has led to a drop in foot traffic in major U.S. downtown areas, including San Francisco. Malls are also gaining popularity among shoppers as they increasingly shift their engagement online.

Nordstrom (JWN) has also struggled with its own difficulties and recently announced the closure of its Canadian stores. The company is also focusing its efforts on the discount rack unit and recently unveiled a rebrand to attract new buyers.

The post Nordstrom is the newest retailer to depart San Francisco appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.