San Francisco’s Last Denny’s Closes Its Doors: A Symbol of Downtown’s Decline

Photo bywndu

SAN FRANCISCO — The last remaining Denny's in San Francisco, a beacon of 24-hour comfort for nearly 25 years, has shut its doors as of August 1st, marking a poignant end to an era.

Located near Union Square, this Denny’s had been a staple for late-night diners and early risers alike. However, persistent challenges, including rampant vandalism and a troubling dine-and-dash problem, ultimately led to its closure. Franchise owner Chris Haque cited the overwhelming costs of maintaining the business amid these issues as a significant factor in the decision.

“We were the only store left, and we operated until the last day that we could,” Haque explained. “The cost of doing business is tremendous. There’s vandalism, and people come and eat and walk away, and there’s no one to stop them.”

Haque, who will continue to manage a Denny's in Tacoma, Washington, previously faced similar difficulties with a San Francisco location at Fisherman’s Wharf, which closed in 2019. The closing of the Union Square Denny’s underscores a broader trend of business closures and diminishing foot traffic in downtown San Francisco.

Empty storefronts have become increasingly common in the area. Notable retailers like Uniqlo, Nordstrom Rack, and Anthropologie have departed, and the Westfield San Francisco Centre, a once-thriving mall, recently handed its operations back to its lender due to declining sales and foot traffic.

Local businesses, like Sam’s Cable Car Lounge, have also felt the impact. “I’d stand outside my bar at 10 p.m. and look, it would be like a party on the street,” manager Jack Mogannam lamented. “Now you see, like, six people on the street up and down the block. It’s a ghost town.”

As San Francisco grapples with these changes, the closure of its last Denny’s serves as a poignant reminder of the city’s evolving landscape and the challenges faced by its business community.