Defection to Suburbs Cited in S.F. Sears Closing

It took executives of Sears, Roebuck & Co. only two minutes to tell employees they will be out of a job at the 39-year-old San Francisco store come September.

Citing customers’ defection to suburban shopping malls, the Chicago-based company said it plans to close its 240,000-square-foot store on Geary Boulevard in San Francisco’s western business district as of Sept. 15. The firm said the store has been losing money for five years.

However, the news hit hard among those who have not deserted the venerable department store.

Customer Kathleen Whitcomb, who has relied on the store since its opening in 1951, exclaimed, “That’s terrible. Can’t you do something?”

Several other customers said the closing would drive them downtown, toward more expensive retailers. They spoke warmly of Sears as a place that sold solid, moderately priced goods and stood by them.

The shock was even stronger for the 235 Sears workers, some of whom have found circles of friends and even spouses through the institution.

Tony Prael, who sells television sets at the store, said he met his wife, Janet, while working at the store 10 years ago.

Janet Person in the cosmetics department said, “My mom works here. My father is a building engineer here. My parents met here, and my sister works here. I get regular customers who come in for 20 or 30 years.”

Some Sears workers suggested that the company is closing its San Francisco outlet because it is one of the few unionized stores.

Leaders of the United Food and Commercial Workers’ Local 1100 said they will try to get the firm to change its mind.