What is "formula retail"? Formula retail is, in essence, chain stores. As defined by the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce and Planning Department, it's retail of certain types (clothing, food, etc.) with more than 10 locations in the US.
For 10 years, the city has had a strict measure in place to limit and monitor the installation of formula retail, from Applebee's to Walmart to Whole Foods. Any store with more than 10 locations already existing has to go through "conditional use permitting," which is a case-by-case approval or rejection by the Planning Department.
The idea has been to protect small and local business and to keep the city looking unique, unlike other cities that have been swamped by rampant chain store growth (sorry, New York).
Last month, the Chamber of Commerce and Planning Department released the findings of a study meant to evaluate the success of the 10 year trial program. In their report, they recommended new steps to change to definition of formula retail to include preexisting stores up to 20 (but to include international locations), and to include other kinds of businesses previously not included.
The Bay Guardian and MissionLocal, among others, have come out with lengthy statements on the new findings, which are largely, to paraphrase both the Chamber of Commerce and the Planning Department, that chain stores are bad (they cut out local and small business), and that chain stores are also good (they let you get things more cheaply).
The Planning Commission has scheduled a potential adoption hearing on July 17th, 2014. We'll keep you posted on what happens, and what any changes to the rules might mean in your neighborhood.
Until then, we're here to ask you: what do you think about protecting your neighborhood from chain stores? Are you pro? Anti? Is there a difference between McDonald's and Whole Foods, Chipotle and Taco Bell? And is there a retail chain that you'd like to see appear in your neighborhood (or disappear, as the case may be)? Let us know in the comments.
