This Week's Top Stories

Embarcadero

It's Official: The Waterfront Park Will Be Called Embarcadero Park — and Art Agnos Gets a Plaza of His Own

The Recreation and Park Commission unanimously approved names for the new five-acre waterfront park on September 17, capping weeks of public process.

The San Francisco Recreation and Park Commission voted unanimously on September 17, 2026 to approve the naming plan for the city's forthcoming five-acre waterfront park, resolving what to call both the unified space and its two distinct halves. The consolidated park — merging the existing Embarcadero Plaza and Sue Bierman Park — will be known as Embarcadero Park.

Union Square

Union Square Alliance Kicks Off Holiday Season Planning — Winter Walk Returns December 13

A September 23 announcement from the Union Square Alliance and the Rec and Park Department confirms the return of Winter Walk and a multi-month Holidays in Union Square campaign for 2026.

The Union Square Alliance announced on September 23, 2026 that its Holidays in Union Square program — a multi-month series of events, activations, and attractions — will return to Union Square this holiday season. The campaign is presented in collaboration with local sponsors and partners and is anchored by the annual Winter Walk Presented by JPMorganChase, which will transform a portion of Stockton Street into a pedestrian promenade from December 13 through December 24.

retail

Uniqlo Returns to Downtown San Francisco With a New Market Street Flagship, Opening October 9

The Japanese retailer is coming back to the city's commercial core — this time at 801 Market Street, the former Old Navy space — as part of a broader 2026 U.S. expansion.

Uniqlo will open a new flagship store at 801 Market Street in downtown San Francisco on October 9, 2026, marking the retailer's return to the city's commercial core after closing its previous Powell Street location. The new store occupies the space long associated with Old Navy, which closed at 801 Market in 2023 after operating there since 1999. The 801 Market Street building, known as Pacific Place, is owned by Ponte Gadea California LLC, an investment arm of Spanish billionaire Amancio Ortega, founder of Zara.

Upcoming Events

Friday, September 25

Critical Mass Bicycle Ride

📍 Embarcadero Plaza, foot of Market Street · Meet 5:30 PM, roll 6:30 PM · Verify · SF Critical Mass

Saturday, September 26

SF City Guides: Ferry Building Walking Tour

📍 Ferry Building, 1 Ferry Building (meet at main entrance) · 10:00 AM – 11:15 AM · Verify · Downtown San Francisco / SF City Guides

Sunday, October 4 – Monday, October 12

San Francisco Fleet Week 2026

📍 Embarcadero, Piers 27 & 35, and waterfront · Various times · Verify · San Francisco Fleet Week

Sunday, October 4

HEAD WEST Marketplace at the Ferry Building

📍 Ferry Building, 1 Ferry Building, Embarcadero · 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM · Verify · Downtown San Francisco / Ferry Building

Sunday, October 4

Pickwick Vintage Show at the Ferry Building

📍 Ferry Building, 1 Ferry Building, Embarcadero · 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM · Verify · Downtown San Francisco / Ferry Building

More from the Community

Powell Street Redesign Remains on Track for Late-2026 Construction Start

Construction documents for the $43 million Powell Street Improvement Project are currently being developed by the city's contracting team, Clark Construction, in partnership with design firms Field Operations and SITELAB Urban Studio…

CoreWeave Fully Connected Conference Comes to Moscone, Sept. 29 – Oct. 1

The CoreWeave Fully Connected 2026 conference is scheduled for September 29 through October 1 at Moscone Center, near Union Square, according to local event listings.

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