Target Coming to the Metreon Center in San Francisco in 2012 The Metreon Center at the corner of 4th and Mission looks really cool form the outside, but is actually one of those places I've never been able to figure out. Beyond a movieplex and a decent food court (there's a Firewood Grill outpost there that I like), the only other places in there are a bookstore and an optical shop. Oh yeah, and a video arcade.
Sony bult the Metreon in 1999 as a place to showcase their products. After that idea went down in flames, they sold it to the behemoth Westfield corporation in 2005. Ever since then, Westfield has been figuring out what to do with the place. Then finally (finally!), plans were unveiled this week for a refacing with more retail street exposure and (drumroll, please. . . ) a TARGET store, which was just given the green light by the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency.
Generally San Francisco HATES chain and big box stores unless they are places we really want to shop, like Whole Foods or Pottery Barn. Because Target has cool stuff that's reasonably priced, the City bent the rules pretty quickly to accommodate Target, which is slated to open in summer of 2012. This will make the Yerba Buena neighborhood ever more appealing as it offers one more destination easily accessed by foot, along with at least half-a-dozen museums and exceptional shopping at the current Westfield/Nordstrom's mall.
I'm also excited about Target because some of my favorite clients own a groovy loft condo at 245 5th Street in the Tehama lofts, just two blocks away. Since their purchase three years ago, the InterContinental Hotel went up on the corner and immediately increased their home's value. This new retail center will help even more.
I'll admit it, I'm a sucker for Target on a personal level, too. My husband and I even went on dates there when the economy was a bit more flush. And I have fond memories each time we use our Michael Graves salad tossers.
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