The Express clothing store near Union Square in San Francisco is due to shutter on October 22, according to a store sign reported by KRON4. This follows in the footsteps of other retail closures in the area, including the Embarcadero Center's Banana Republic.

An ongoing sale with up to 60% off is currently taking place, and shoppers are being directed to other Express locations at Stonestown Galleria and stores in Emeryville, Concord, Pleasanton, Brentwood, Santa Clara, Livermore, Petaluma, and Milpitas. SF GATE reports more than 530 Express stores still operate nationwide.

Although Express has not explicitly stated the reason for the closure, a previous press release detailed plans for a range of cost-cutting measures aimed to deliver yearly savings of $150 million by 2025. According to SF GATE,  workforce reductions slated for fiscal year 2024 are expected to contribute roughly $30 million to the savings.

Amidst the closure of local stores like Anthropologie, CB2, the RealReal, Gap, Uniqlo, and DSW, efforts are being made to animate the area through the Vacant to Vibrant initiative, a scheme to bring life to empty storefronts. Pop-up shops are cropping up across downtown San Francisco, including locations for Devil’s Teeth Baking Company, radio station KALW and Holy Stitch's clothing creation and repair workshops.

Opening since October 2013, the Express store was an enduring presence in San Francisco's retail scene. Located within the historic 1908 Elkan Gunst Building, it attracted attention with its eye-catching, theater-like exterior. Prior to Express's occupancy, the Gold Dust Lounge held the lease, before relocating to Fisherman’s Wharf and eventually closing in 2019.