Union Square, San Francisco
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Union Square is the central shopping, hotel and theatre district in San Francisco, California. It also refers to the 2.6 acres (1.1 ha) park bordered by Geary, Powell, Post and Stockton Street. The name "Union Square" stems from the fact that the area was once used for rallies and support for the Union Army during the Civil War.[1] Today, this one-block park and nearby area is one of the largest collection of department stores, swank boutiques, tourist trinket shops and salons in the Western United States, which continues to make Union Square a major visitor draw and a vital, cosmopolitan place in downtown San Francisco. Grand hotels and small inns, as well as repertory, off-Broadway and single-act theaters also contribute to the area's dynamic, 24-hour character.
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[edit] History
While Union Square proper dates from the United States Civil War era, the park has undergone many notable changes: the 1906 San Francisco earthquake leveled most of the buildings that surrounded it, a large underground parking garage was installed in the early 1940s and relocated the park's lawns, shrubs and landmark statuary to the garage "roof."
In early 1998, city planners began their plans to renovate the park to create more paved surfaces (for easier maintenance) with outdoor cafes and a four-levels underground parking garage.[2] Finally in late 2000, the park was partially closed down to renovate the park and the parking garage.[3] On July 25, 2002, the park reopened and ceremony was held with then Mayor Willie Brown. "Use it; it is your square," said Mayor Willie Brown. [4]
Today, Union Square retains its role as the ceremonial "heart" of San Francisco, serving as the site of many public concerts, impromptu protests, speeches by visiting dignitaries, and the annual Christmas tree and Menorah. Public views of the square can be seen from surrounding high places as the St. Francis Hotel tower, the Sir Francis Drake Hotel, Macy's top floor, and the Grand Hyatt hotel.
[edit] Nearby attractions
Union Square has also come to describe not only the immediate vicinity of the park but the general shopping, dining and theater sub-districts within the surrounding blocks. The Geary and Curran theaters one block west on Geary anchor the "theater district" and border the Tenderloin. Union Square is also home to San Francisco's TIX Bay Area, a half-priced ticket booth and Ticketmaster outlet. Run by Theatre Bay Area, tickets for most of San Francisco's performing arts can be purchased the day of the performance at a discounted rate.
At the end of Powell Street two blocks south, where the cable cars turn around beside Hallidie Plaza at Market Street, is a growing retail corridor that leads to the Metreon and the Yerba Buena Gardens, with its own arts and entertainment centers, more large hotels, the Moscone Convention Center and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Also south of Market and near Yerba Buena Gardens is the historic United States Mint Building, built in 1874 of granite: a rare survivor of the 1906 quake. Nob Hill, with its grand mansions, apartment buildings and hotels, stands to the northwest of Union Square. This area is also home to some of the most upscale luxury hotels in San Francisco.
To the north is Chinatown, with its gate at Grant Avenue and Bush Street, one of the largest Chinese communities outside Asia.
The city's historic French enclave centers on Belden Place, runs east along Bush Street, and tucks into Claude Lane. It is full of popular open-air French restaurants. Every year the area is the site of the boisterous Bastille Day celebration, the nation's largest, and Bush Street is temporarily re-named Buisson.
Directly east of the Square is Maiden Lane, a narrow alley of exclusive shops and cafes that leads to the Financial District and boasts San Francisco's only building designed by Frank Lloyd Wright — most notable for being the predecessor for New York City's Guggenheim Museum.
[edit] Shopping
Union Square has become a popular shopping destination. It boasts six major department stores: Macy's, Bloomingdale's, Barneys New York, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Neiman Marcus. Union Square is also home to several famous upscale boutiques like Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Dior, Chanel, Prada, Giorgio Armani, Marc Jacobs, and Hermes. It is also home to the country's first Goyard boutique (located on the corner of Powell and Post). There are more stores located inside the newly renovated Westfield San Francisco Centre, just south of Union Square along Market Street. Old Navy, Forever 21, Anthropologie, Abercrombie & Fitch, and American Eagle Outfitters are also located along Market Street, just 2-3 blocks south of Union Square respectively.
There are also several cases of redundancy among retailers. H&M has three stores in Union Square (on Powell, on Post, and inside the Westfield San Francisco Centre). Gap has two stores, one on Post and another on the corner of Powell and Market. Zara, MNG by Mango, Kenneth Cole New York, Guess, Juicy Couture, Tumi, BCBG Max Azria, and Coach both have stores around Union Square and inside the Westfield San Francisco Centre.
[edit] Transportation
Two cable car lines (Powell-Hyde and Powell-Mason) serve the Union Square on Powell Street.
In addition, Union Square is served by numerous trolley and bus lines and the F Market heritage streetcar. The Muni Metro and BART subway systems both serve the area at nearby Powell Street Station on Market Street. Muni now planned to build an extension of its Muni Metro system to connect the Union Square and Chinatown. The extension, known as the Central Subway, is currently scheduled for completion by 2016.
[edit] Trivia
In 1974, Francis Ford Coppola directed The Conversation in Union Square, where the bugged conversation which forms the foundation of the movie takes place.
[edit] References
- ^ San Francisco Neighborhood Guide, San Francisco Chronicle.
- ^ BAYLIFE 98. FUTURE, San Francisco Chronicle.
- ^ Remodel To Close Union Square, San Francisco Chronicle.
- ^ A square is born, San Francisco Chronicle.
[edit] External links
[edit] See also
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