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This Week's Top Stories

Union Square

Nordstrom Rack Announces Return to Union Square, Signing Lease at 2 Stockton Street for Fall 2027 Opening

The off-price retailer will occupy 51,500 square feet at the corner of Stockton and Market, filling a storefront vacant since Forever 21 departed in 2019.

Three years after closing both of its downtown San Francisco locations, Nordstrom Rack is coming back. The Seattle-based retailer announced Wednesday, October 15, that it has signed a lease at 2 Stockton Street — a 51,500-square-foot corner storefront at Market and Stockton in the Union Square neighborhood — with the store scheduled to open in fall 2027. The building, owned and managed by Invesco Real Estate, has been largely empty since Forever 21 vacated in 2019 and a brief candy-store tenant subsequently closed.

Read the full story: Nordstrom Press Release →
Embarcadero

'I Am' Comes Down: Embarcadero's 45-Foot Nude Sculpture Dismantled After 18 Months, Clearing Path for New Park

Crews disassembled Marco Cochrane's towering steel-mesh figure this week; the platform where it stood will become part of the $40 million Embarcadero Park renovation.

Dismantling of the towering sculpture known as "I Am" began Monday, October 13, and by Tuesday the head of the 13,000-pound steel-mesh figure had been lowered to the pavement at Embarcadero Plaza.

Read the full story: San Francisco Chronicle →
Embarcadero

Sue Bierman Playground Reopens Today as Embarcadero Park Design Heads to Arts Commission on Monday

The children's playground closed for tree work since September 28 has been cleared to reopen; the full park redesign goes before the SF Arts Commission's Civic Design Review Committee on October 19.

San Francisco Recreation and Park Department confirmed in an October 2026 project update that Sue Bierman Playground at Embarcadero Park has now reopened, following a two-and-a-half-week closure that began September 28 to accommodate tree removals around the play area. The department's notice had indicated a target reopening of Friday, October 16.

Read the full story: SF Recreation and Park Department →

The week ahead

Downtown & Embarcadero · forecast issued October 16, 2026 · National Weather Service

  1. Fri 76°60° Sunny
  2. Sat 71°58° Sunny
  3. Sun 62°56° Sunny
  4. Mon 59°56° Mostly Sunny
  5. Tue 60°56° Chance Light Rain
  6. Wed 62°57° Slight Chance Light Rain
  7. Thu 61°56° Mostly Sunny

Upcoming & Ongoing in the Community

Friday, October 16 – Sunday, October 25

Fall 2026 SF Restaurant Week

Dozens of San Francisco restaurants offer special prix-fixe menus at set price points — brunch and lunch from $15–$45, dinner from $30–$90 — for ten days. Visit sfrestaurantweek.com for the full participant list and to make reservations.

  • Location:Participating restaurants citywide, including Financial District and Union Square
  • Time:Various times
Verify details →

Sunday, October 18

Foodwise Sunday Supper: A Farm to City Feast

Foodwise's Farm to City Feast returns to the Ferry Building for a seated dinner celebrating Bay Area farmers and producers. Tickets required; see the Downtown SF Partnership events calendar for details.

  • Location:Ferry Building, 1 Ferry Building, Embarcadero
  • Time:4:30 PM – 9:30 PM
Verify details →

Sunday, October 25

World of Dumplings Festival at the Ferry Building

The third annual World of Dumplings free community food festival returns with 25-plus restaurant vendors serving dumplings from around the globe, plus live music, cooking demonstrations, eating contests, a beer garden, and family activities. Free admission; food available for purchase from vendors.

  • Location:Ferry Building, 1 Ferry Building, Embarcadero
  • Time:11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Verify details →

Wednesday, October 29

Trick-or-Treat at the Ferry Building

Families are invited to trick-or-treat through the Ferry Building Marketplace, with shops offering candy, Halloween crafts, spooky music, and games. All activities are free and open to the public; RSVP on Eventbrite encouraged to help with candy supply.

  • Location:Ferry Building Marketplace, 1 Ferry Building, Embarcadero
  • Time:4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Verify details →

Friday, October 30

Halloween Boonanza at Salesforce Park

The East Cut Community Benefit District hosts a free family Halloween morning at Salesforce Park with candy collecting, fairy encounters from Happily Ever Laughter, Halloween crafts with GoGo Craft, and a closing performance by Jamaroo. Free and open to the public.

  • Location:Salesforce Park, Central Lawn & Main Plaza, 425 Mission Street (rooftop), Rincon Hill
  • Time:10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Verify details →

More from the Community

Union Square

Los Angeles Apparel Confirms First SF Store at 111 Powell Street, Union Square

Los Angeles Apparel — the basics clothing brand founded by American Apparel's Dov Charney — confirmed on October 2 that it will open its first San Francisco location at 111 Powell Street in Union Square, the former Uniqlo space.

Read the full story: SF Standard →
Financial District

SF Office Market Posts Strongest Annual Absorption Since 2019, South Financial District Leading Recovery

San Francisco's office market absorbed 5.5 million square feet over the past twelve months — the strongest annual total since 2019 — according to a NAI NorCal market report published October 15, 2026. Vacancy fell to 20.2 percent, a 2.7-point annual decline driven by AI, technology, and life-science leasing.

Read the full story: NAI NorCal →

Community Directory

Seafood & American

Financial District

Wayfare Tavern

American tavern

Tyler Florence's relocated flagship—now in a grand four-room space at 201 Pine St—serves celebrated fried chicken, seasonal deviled eggs, and classic Victorian-era cocktails in a gold-leaf and tufted-leather setting.

201 Pine St  ·  415-772-9060

Visit website →
Financial District Landmark

Tadich Grill

Classic seafood restaurant

California's oldest continuously operating restaurant, founded in 1849, still serving Croatian-style charcoal-broiled seafood and cioppino at its longtime California Street address.

240 California St  ·  415-391-1849

Visit website →
Embarcadero

Angler

Live-fire seafood restaurant

Michelin-starred Embarcadero waterfront restaurant from Saison Hospitality where every dish is touched by a 32-foot wood-burning hearth, serving premium seafood and steaks with bay views.

132 The Embarcadero  ·  415-872-9442

Visit website →
Embarcadero Landmark

Hog Island Oyster Co.

Oyster bar

Beloved Ferry Building oyster counter and casual dine-in restaurant serving sustainably farmed Tomales Bay oysters, craft cocktails, and a seasonal seafood menu with views of the Bay Bridge.

1 Ferry Building, Shop 11A  ·  415-391-7117

Visit website →
Embarcadero

Waterbar

Upscale seafood restaurant

Embarcadero waterfront restaurant serving fresh oysters, seafood, and California cuisine with dramatic floor-to-ceiling aquarium installations and views of the Bay Bridge.

399 The Embarcadero S  ·  415-284-9922

Visit website →
Union Square Landmark

John's Grill

Historic American restaurant

A San Francisco institution open for over 116 years near Union Square, offering live music, classic American fare, and the setting immortalized in Dashiell Hammett's The Maltese Falcon.

63 Ellis St  ·  415-986-0069

Visit website →
Embarcadero New

Nopa Fish

Sustainable seafood market and café

2025 Ferry Building newcomer operating as part casual restaurant, part retail fish market, featuring sustainably sourced California seafood in sandwiches, fish and chips, and seasonal small plates.

1 Ferry Building

Visit website →
Embarcadero

Roli Roti Gourmet Rotisserie

Rotisserie food stall

Ferry Building market favorite serving slow-roasted Porchetta sandwiches, rotisserie chicken, and herb-roasted potatoes at the weekend farmers market and select weekday hours.

1 Ferry Building

Visit website →

Italian & Deli

Financial District

Perbacco

Northern Italian restaurant

Polished Piemontese and Ligurian cooking—agnolotti dal plin, pappardelle with short rib ragù, and an award-winning Italian wine list—in an upscale Financial District room.

230 California St  ·  415-955-0663

Visit website →
Union Square

Corzetti

Italian restaurant

Union Square Italian restaurant popular for its $20 rotating lunch specials and fresh ingredients, with strong reviews for service and value.

161 Sutter St

Visit website →

Asian

Financial District Landmark

Benu

Asian-inspired tasting menu

Chef Corey Lee's three-Michelin-star restaurant near the Financial District serves a precise tasting menu blending Asian, American, and French traditions, open Wednesday through Saturday.

22 Hawthorne St  ·  415-685-4860

Visit website →
Union Square

Kin Khao

Modern Thai restaurant

Michelin Bib Gourmand Thai restaurant inside the Parc 55 hotel near Union Square, serving unique, deeply layered flavors that diverge from typical Thai restaurant menus.

55 Cyril Magnin St  ·  415-362-7456

Visit website →
Union Square

HINODEYA Ramen Union Square

Ramen restaurant

Casual, late-night ramen shop near Union Square with a broad menu and highly rated for quick, satisfying bowls.

370 Jessie St

Visit website →

Mediterranean & Middle Eastern

Embarcadero New

Arquet

Modern Mediterranean-California restaurant

The Ferry Building's newest full-service restaurant from the team behind Sorrel, open Wednesday through Sunday for lunch and dinner in the historic space formerly occupied by The Slanted Door.

1 Ferry Building

Visit website →

Other

Embarcadero

Bon Delire

French bistro

Kais Bouzidi's Parisian-inspired waterfront bistro near the Ferry Building, serving classic French fare with waterfront atmosphere along the Embarcadero.

1 Ferry Building, Shop 36

Visit website →

Brunch & Breakfast

Financial District Landmark

The Garden Court Restaurant

Historic grand dining room

San Francisco Landmark No. 18, this sky-lit dining room under Austrian crystal chandeliers inside the Palace Hotel serves elevated breakfasts and signature afternoon tea.

2 New Montgomery St  ·  415-546-5089

Visit website →
Financial District

Sisterita

Casual all-day café

Locally sourced, casual-dining café in the Financial District earning top neighborhood ratings on Yelp for breakfast and lunch.

50 California St

Visit website →

Bars & Wine Bars

Financial District

Wayfare Tavern Bar

Cocktail bar

The bar program at Wayfare Tavern's new Pine Street home features an expansive California-centric wine list alongside Victorian-era classic cocktails.

201 Pine St  ·  415-772-9060

Visit website →
Financial District

Barbarossa Lounge

Cocktail lounge

Locally owned, walk-in-welcome cocktail lounge in the Financial District open late, known for a trendy, relaxed atmosphere.

971 Kearny St

Visit website →

Bakeries & Desserts

Embarcadero New

Parachute Bakery

French patisserie

Opened September 2025 in the Ferry Building by the culinary team behind Michelin-recognized Sorrel, offering melt-in-your-mouth pastries in one of the waterfront's most sought-after new spots.

1 Ferry Building

Visit website →

Know of a listing that's wrong or a business that's closed? Report a correction →

Sources & Editorial Notes

Stories in My Town News are compiled from public sources, and with assistance from AI. Please verify important details at the cited source. All named individuals appear only in their publicly documented roles. Directory listings reflect publicly available contact information and are updated periodically.
1

Nordstrom Rack to Return to San Francisco with New Store (Press Release)

 ·  https://press.nordstrom.com/node/61691/pdf

2

The Rack is back: Nordstrom Rack returning to Union Square

 ·  https://sfstandard.com/2026/10/15/nordstrom-rack-union-square-return/

3

Nordstrom Rack to Reopen In Downtown SF at Former Forever 21 Site

 ·  https://sfist.com/2026/10/15/nordstrom-rack-to-reopen-in-downtown-sf-at-former-forever-21-site/

4

Nordstrom Rack Returns to San Francisco With 51,000 SQFT Union Square Store at 2 Stockton Street

 ·  https://news.theregistrysf.com/nordstrom-rack-returns-to-san-francisco-with-51000-sqft-union-square-store-at-2-stockton-street/

5
6

Giant nude sculpture comes down in dramatic S.F. spectacle

 ·  https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/giant-nude-sculpture-dismantled-22474262.php

7

'Good riddance': Opinions divided as giant naked woman sculpture at Embarcadero comes down

 ·  https://www.kron4.com/news/bay-area/good-riddance-opinions-divided-as-giant-naked-woman-sculpture-at-embarcadero-comes-down/

8

San Francisco's giant nude sculpture is moving on. Here's what's next

 ·  https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/nude-sculpture-leaves-embaracadero-22463886.php

9

45-Foot-Tall Nude Woman Sculpture to Leave Embarcadero Plaza Next Week

 ·  https://sfist.com/2026/10/06/45-foot-tall-nude-woman-sculpture-to-leave-embarcadero-plaza-next-week/

10

Embarcadero Park Renovation | Project update, October 2026

 ·  https://recpark.sf.gov/468/Park-Improvements

11

Embarcadero Park Renovation | Project update, September 23, 2026

 ·  https://www.sfrecpark.org/m/newsflash/Home/Detail/3077

12

Rec and Park Commission Gives Final Approval to Embarcadero Park, Art Agnos Plaza Names

 ·  https://sfrecpark.org/m/newsflash/Home/Detail/3066

13

Civic Design Review Committee Meeting – October 19, 2026

 ·  https://www.sf.gov/departments--civic-design-review-committee-arts-commission

14

Fall SF Restaurant Week – About

 ·  https://www.sfrestaurantweek.com/

15

Fall 2026 SF Restaurant Week – Downtown SF Events

 ·  https://downtownsf.org/do/fall-2026-sf-restaurant-week

16

San Francisco October Festivals & Street Fairs 2026 – World of Dumplings

 ·  https://sf.funcheap.com/city-guide/october-street-fairs-festivals/

17

Ferry Building Events – Trick-or-Treat, Music on the Plaza

 ·  https://www.ferrybuildingmarketplace.com/events/

18

Halloween Boonanza at Salesforce Park

 ·  https://www.tjpa.org/salesforce-transit-center/activities

19

Foodwise Sunday Supper: A Farm to City Feast – Downtown SF Events

 ·  https://downtownsf.org/things-to-do/events

20

Los Angeles Apparel, successor to American Apparel, is opening a Union Square store

 ·  https://sfstandard.com/2026/10/02/dov-charney-la-apparel-union-square/

21

San Francisco October 2026 Office Market Report

 ·  https://nainorcal.com/san-fransisco-october-2026-report/