To close out the year, we've asked our local neighborhood editors to choose their favorite stories from the past year, and to explain why they loved them so. 

Today, we hear from Financial District/Chinatown/North Beach editor Geri:

I enjoyed doing this story because it revealed a trend that no one else had noticed and that has continued to grow, helping to turn around a somewhat sleepy area into a thriving district with more foot traffic and a well-heeled customer base.

Even though we lost a couple of places since I wrote this (La Boutique l’Art et la Mode and Urban Sidewalk), I learned recently that Urban Sidewalk is planning to reopen at 241 Columbus Ave. We also saw Victor Tung Couture reopen, on a strip of Commercial Street that also holds Point Grey Couture and a new location of Legion SF. And the high-profile Shinola and JAKE clothing are moving to the area, too.

Below is an excerpt from the original story, published on May 8th, 2015.

When shoppers think of prime fashion centers in San Francisco, a few areas jump to mind: Fillmore, Hayes Valley, Union Street, and of course, Union Square. But a new hub is taking hold in a unlikely area, near the intersection of Jackson Square, FiDi and Chinatown.

There's no name for this district yet, but if recent changes are any indication, it could be the next hot area for those with style savvy...

Continue reading one of Geri's favorite stories of 2015, "A Fashion Hub Emerges At Nexus Of Jackson Square, FiDi And Chinatown."